WORDPLAY

by Joe Barber on Jun.23, 2006, under Joe Barber's Movie Reviews

MOVIE REVIEW: “WORDPLAY”

One of the more pleasant developments of recent movie summers has been the discovery by movie studios that there is a large and appreciative audience for feature length documentaries. A wide array of non-fiction films ( as several film critics have dubbed them), such as “Mad Hot Ballroomâ€, “Grizzly Man”, “Spellbound” and “March of the Penguins” have become surprise box office hits and offered moviegoers a quality diversion from big budget dross. Most of the major blockbusters released so far this summer have been rather ho-hum. “Word Play,” the first of the summer season’s documentaries, happily follows the recent trend of engaging, entertaining films.

Centered around New York “Times” crossword puzzle editor and National Public Radio contributor Will Shortz, “Word Play” examines the American passion for this seemingly simple, yet complex and confounding hobby. The film looks at the history of the crossword and its development in newspapers. Not surprisingly, the movie concentrates on the “Times” puzzle, which is overseen by Shortz and is considered the toughest of the daily newspaper puzzles.

The filmmakers use a number of storytelling threads to garner the interest of non-puzzle addicts. We meet several celebrity solvers who share their passion for the puzzle and their quirks in how and with what type of writing instrument they use to fill in the squares. Jon Stewart of ” The Daily Show,” New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina and former U.S. President Bill Clinton are among the well known solvers making appearances.

The climax of the film is provided by the 2006 National Crossword Convention in Connecticut. Created by Shortz and some fellow puzzle creators and solvers, the event features top puzzle players from across the nation competing in timed solving matches. Players are separated by classes of speed and ability and the weekend-long events culminates in a truly exciting match between three top solvers, all doing the same puzzle at the same time on a stage in front of a crowd. It may sound boring, but there are enough twists and turns here to make an NBA fan green with envy.

Along the way, we get close up vignettes on some of the past champions and up and coming contenders for the title. These up close and personal moments, intertwined with the other material, keeps the film fresh and involving while the countdown to the finals continues.

Smart, funny and refreshingly fascinate with the athletes of the mind, so to speak, “Word Play” delights, educates and intrigues you without special effects or big explosions, It is the film I have enjoyed watching the most this summer so far.

MPAA RATING: PG for mild profanity.

JOE’S RATING: