Like the subject itself, it eventually draws knowledgeable curiosity as it predictably fascinates with intellectually insightful, meaningful reverence that not only spells the surrounding relevance but only how it unites its own community, therefore becoming one of the most crowd-pleasing documentaries. (B+)

It's revealing to see that Bill Clinton solves crosswords with a blue felt pen like a complete sociopath.

Wordplay: 5 out of 10: In reviews of Robert Redford's delightful movie Quiz Show critics lamented on the disappearance of the middle class intellectual since those storied fifties. It turns out they are alive and well and doing the New York Times crossword, in ink no less. Wordplay is a documentary about such people and the puzzles they love. Like the New York Times resident cruciverbalist Will Shortz, Wordplay is genial to a fault. The fact is for many people doing the daily crossword is the only intellectual exercise their brain gets all day and is the total sum usage of a four-year liberal arts degree. Let us face it knowledge of Sophocles doesn't come up often at the daily grind. (Or as Sir Humphrey Appleby said in Yes Prime Minister what use is knowing Latin if I can't even use it when talking to the Prime Minister.) So doing the crossword is often the best intellectual stimulation an over-educated person can get in his or her daily experience. (Alas some people only write movie reviews instead.) Does Wordplay touch upon these more significant issues? Not on your life. Instead, we get an assortment of celebrity moments some insightful (Bill Clinton) some humorous (Jon Stewart) and some downright creepy (documentarian Ken Burns). There is a very penetrating look inside the creation of the crossword with enigmatologist Merl Reagle but alas it is over just as it gets interesting. There are also the painfully non-judgmental profiles of the fanatics ï¿ 1/2" those people who dedicate themselves to solving puzzles in record time and winning the crossword championship. So screen time is spent not just watching the crossword championship talent show but watching the baton twirling practice in the park for the same. The film is very slick with excellent graphics, but it indeed isn't at all deep for such an intellectual pursuit.

A quirky, entertaining cast of characters, who happen to be real people. The star of the show is Will Shortz, who is the creator and host of the tournament that the movie portrays.

I almost gave this a 3 because of how ridiculously cheesy the music and editing often were. The editing that critics call "ingenious" but is just annoying and looks like it was done by an amateur in the 80s.

A thrillingly fun and smart documentary about cruciverbal logoplets of the formidable The New York Times' crossword puzzles. The subjects range from celebrities like President Bill Clinton and Jon Stewart, the ingenious puzzle makers, the regular top players of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament to the crossword puzzle editor for NYT, Will Shortz, with a one-of-a-kind degree in Enigmatology, the study of puzzles.

It was cool to watch, especially to see how people really get into it, and the structure necessary to make them... BUT, unless you're into it...

A real joy to watch about a sub-culture with a really passionate community. It's what documentaries are all about, giving a glimpse into a world that you would not otherwise be aware of. It never is less than absorbing.

Riveting up until the crossword convention nosedive.

Fascinating look at The New York Times crossword puzzle and those who create and do it, culminating at their annual competition.

Great documentary. I highly recommend this film.

Enjoyable, quirky, insightful, even suspenseful; has a few more layers than the average slice-of-americana item. Would watch it again.

This film opened my eyes to a whole world of crossword fanatics including well known celebrities. If you can't go a week without solving the New York Times crossword this ones for you.

The Gospel of John opens with one of the most well-known passages in scripture, âIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.â? For crossword âpuzzlers,â? the passage might be amended to include, âand the word, is also the middle and end-all of pastimes.â? The documentary film, Wordplay provides an eye opening glimpse into the world of the crossword puzzle. Even though I have known people who often worked crosswords, the thing that jumped out at me was that for many, crossword is a 9 letter word for âwar of words.â? Unbeknownst to me there has been for decades a daily war waged between givers of clues and holders of pencils, or pens, with the battlefield a 5 inch square box filled with blank spaces. Directed by Patrick Creadon, Wordplay features Will Shortz, the crossword puzzle editor of what is the gold standard for âcross-wording,â? the New York Times Crossword Puzzle. Also featured is a cast of characters from leading puzzle constructors to the most devoted of the box hungry consumers. Director Creadon draws back the curtain and offers an extended examination of all that goes into producing what for many is a daily necessity. Who ever knew there were standards for the number of spaces and the patterns for the blackened boxes. While I had heard that Saturday and Sunday puzzles were more difficult, there is in fact a decided hierarchy for the degree of puzzle difficulty. Mondays are the easiest with each day getting harder, building to a crescendo of Saturday and Sunday killers. Creadon also draws the curtain back on the best of the best crossword puzzle players, who keep in crossword shape by timing themselves, to the second, on each and every puzzle. For those who think miracles do not happen, try watching a person finish a NY Times puzzle in 2:02. The film follows these leading puzzle masters as they integrate âpuzzlingâ? into their lives and seek to show their wares at the pinnacle event in the crossword universe, the annual Crossword Tournament in Stamford CT. Interspersed with these titans of the crossword world are other more notable devotees from Bill Clinton and Bob Dole, each also the correct answer to a clue on the day after the 1996 election, to documentary film legend Ken Burns, and 온라인카지노추천 host / comedian Jon Stewart, among others. Wordplay is a wonderfully informative, funny, and engaging film that appeals to persons, regardless of whether they have rarely gotten more than a word or two of a puzzle, i.e. me, or are those that see the rest of the newspaper as filler for the crossword. Whether opening oneâ(TM)s eyes or validating oneâ(TM)s passion, Wordplay entertains, informs and is worth the investment of time and price of a DVD rental or download. If one does engage in the word warfare you will want to view and be in awe of these brobdingnagians of the crossword universe. If one has little or no experience, you should also catch it, and be informed of another of the worldâ(TM)s intriguing corners. I say this based on my response to the film. Upon leaving the theatre I was struck by the diversity of interests and abilities with which God endowed humanity. While I have passed over enough crossword puzzles to wall paper a cathedral, others have availed themselves of them, and been entertained, educated, and exercised their brain. And yet, many of those same persons cast aside film reviews and or the religion or sports sections for later _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . (7 letter word for quickly scanning .) As I exited the theater I was reminded and amazed again by the macro and micro duality of God. God is at once so expansive and diverse in instilling in others such a wide variety of passions, talents, and hobbies, and yet is also absolutely personal and intimate in designing my interests and equipping me with my abilities. The same God, who created the heavens and the earth in all their beautiful vastness, Psalm 8, is the God who created and knows me perfectly, Psalm 139.

needed more celebs solving the same crossword, bill clintons deep metaphor about solving a crossword was pretty cool

You broke my heart Al.

A surprisingly enthralling movie about crossword puzzles, enthusiasts, and creators. It focuses on the annual crossword puzzle championship and features not only big names from the crossword world, but celebrities who enjoy them as well. The special features for documentaries like this usually consist of outtakes and more background information, but make sure to check out the featurette about five of the most unique puzzles from the New York Times--the people that came up with these are creative geniuses. Very cool.

Odd little doc about crossword creators and solvers.

This movie is much more fun than it sounds.

For the most part, the obsessives of Wordplay are exactly who you'd picture, with the exception of the celebrity puzzlers, but there is much more than expected in the subculture of competitive crossword. Focusing on the New York Times puzzle, and beginning with a thorough breakdown of how the feature comes together, the documentary reveals how much effort, detail and playfulness go into these daily grids. Highlighted players vary enough that, for the most part, they are remembered upon return, and the celebrities provide an excellent commentary on the pleasures of crossword (especially Bill Clinton and the surprisingly combative Jon Stewart ). The national competition of the second half is a satisfying escalation of the subject, but lacks a certain suspense typically inherent to championships. Although absent a clear narrative drive, Word Play is an entertaining and insightful portrayal of an entire world hidden between letters, lines and spaces.