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Wordplay

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Wordplay (2006)

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85 %
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Reviews Counted: 152

Fresh: 130

Rotten:22

Average Rating: 7.1/10

Consensus: You see them hunched over with their brows furrowed, folded newspaper in hand as they attempt to complete the crossword puzzle. This may even describe you. This ingeniously edited documentary introduces viewers to some of the more dedicated fans of this solitary pastime, none more well-known the puzzle editor for the New York Times, Will Shortz. This underground world provides a surprising amount of crowd-pleasing entertainment and suspense, especially at the annual crossword tournament. Didn't know there was one, did you?

Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins

Genre: Education/General Interest

Synopsis: Inky-fingered New York Times readers love the mind-bending crossword puzzles lovingly curated for the paper by longstanding contributor Will Shortz. There are few things more satisfying than completing one of Shortz's puzzles, and a... Inky-fingered New York Times readers love the mind-bending crossword puzzles lovingly curated for the paper by longstanding contributor Will Shortz. There are few things more satisfying than completing one of Shortz's puzzles, and a cult has sprung up around the enigmatic crossword compiler as Times readers put pen to paper and attempt to pick his brains. Director Patrick Creadon has capitalized on this phenomenon with the film WORDPLAY, a genial documentary based on Shortz and his devoted followers. Creadon begins by tracing Shortz's unusual ascent to his tenure at the Times, creating a picture of an easygoing, well-liked, and respected man. Creadon also takes viewers on a trip to the 28th annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, a geek haven where Shortz assumes godlike status. Indeed, it was Shortz himself who created the contest, and he still presides over it, demonstrating a great deal of affection for the tournament and its participants. As we witness the various eccentrics battling it, some of Shortz's celebrity fans get plenty of camera time, THE DAILY SHOW's Jon Stewart and former president Bill Clinton among them. Clinton even recalls an amusing occasion when a particularly tricky election-day puzzle left readers wondering whether "Clinton" or "Bob Dole" was the seven-letter solution to one of Shortz's clues--in fact some clever juggling of letters meant that both answers could have been correct. An enjoyable movie that even manages to make the crossword tournament a gripping affair, WORDPLAY succeeds largely thanks to its immensely likeable central figure and the behavior of the kooky contestants at the tournament. [More]

Starring: Mike Mussina, Will Shortz, Jon Stewart, Bill Clinton

Starring: Mike Mussina, Will Shortz, Jon Stewart, Bill Clinton, Ken Burns, Bob Dole

Director: Patrick Creadon

Director: Patrick Creadon
Screenwriter: Christine O'Malley
Producer: Patrick Walsh
Studio: IFC Films

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PirateGirl 10/06/08
80%
It is there...every day in your newspaper: the crossword. But when you think of crosswords, the first image that comes... More
Quote by PirateGirl
ComradeChrome 08/22/08
40%

Quote by ComradeChrome
mze3 07/28/08
70%

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rogerpaige 07/16/08
80%

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EdMuldoon 07/14/08
100%
A true sleeper, this movie is entertaining whether or not you are a crossword fanatic. If you, like me, do the NY Times... More
Quote by EdMuldoon
meinink2y 06/17/08
80%
Wordplay is a tight, well-done documentary about crossword puzzles and the annual tournament that pits the nation's... More
Quote by meinink2y
ScrabbleJon 05/24/08
0%

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bradford624 04/17/08
100%

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ctopherholland 03/25/08
100%

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Leauregard 03/18/08
100%

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castinglove 01/04/08
80%

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dcough 01/04/08
70%

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BankyEdwards 12/26/07
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befwwe555 12/25/07
80%

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BuffyFanOne 11/14/07
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ackleyjosh 11/09/07
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aaronmize 11/05/07
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Fishpants 10/31/07
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beverly21 10/27/07
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AnonConArtist 10/26/07
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