Review of Wordplay (2006) by Keir M — 14 Apr 2008

If you like words, word games and crosswords, this documentary is for you.

Patrick Creadon (really a cinematographer) directs this movie which centers on the 28th annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, hosted every year in Stamford, Conn. Will Shortz, the editor of the New York Times crossword puzzles is the one who together the tournament. We also get a look at some of the fans of the of the Times puzzles. Some of those folks are former President Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, Jon Stewart, Ken Burns, Mike Mussina and the Indigo Girls.

Will Shortz is the king of his tournament which he became after he took over of the NY Times puzzles. The story of how Shortz got where he is is very interesting. He went to Indiana University and at IU lets the students design their own majors. He got a degree in something he called, "enigmatology." He also created the rules for the tournament.

This movie had my attention all the way and the final championship round in the tournament is just icing on the cake. The three finalists stand on a stage in front of big crossword boards that are visible to everybody in the room.The finalists wear headphones that pump music at them so they aren't affected by clues or comments from the audience. There is a dramatic scene toward the end of the tournament where one finalist tears off his headphones and throws them down with great force and he has good reason.

In spite of one of the stories of one of the featured contestants (whose story contributed nothing to the movie), I was in it from beginning to end. Word!