Wordplay (2006)

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Ratings & comments

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Wordplay is the Trekkies of the crossword puzzle scene. It suffers somewhat from lack of focus, but is mostly concerned with the annual crossword tournament run by Will Shortz, now puzzle editor at the New York Times, and some of its more successful-slash-obsessive contestants.

The community is passionate, and that's always nice to see, but... there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio. Mere existence is not enough to warrant a documentary film, and there is little to distinguish this particular passionate community from any other. They're not bizarre enough for freakshow appeal, nor convey their enthusiasm well enough for it to become contagious.

The film is engaging and the tournament is tense, but when it ends you're left wondering, is that it? I like crosswords and I love language, but there's nothing much here. Extremely disappointing.

- Sam - 2007-05-13 00:48:34