| Wordplay (2006)
|
|
|
| Front Cover |
Actor |
Back Cover |
|
| Chris Astoyan |
|
| Jon Delfin |
|
| Liane Hansen |
|
| Jon Stewart |
|
| Miriam Raphael |
|
| Mel Rosen (II) |
|
| Vic Fleming |
|
| Dan Katz (III) |
|
| Joy Dewing |
|
| Bill Clinton |
|
| Merl Reagle |
|
| Indigo Girls |
|
| Ken Burns |
|
|
|
|
| Plot |
| The linguistic ballet of the crossword puzzle and the obsessive minds that wrestle with them are a source of delight in the charming documentary Wordplay. Though there's no story, the movie has a definite hero: Will Shortz, the editor of the New York Times crossword puzzle, universally acknowledged as the pinnacle of crosswords. Shortz comes across as clever but modest; though he's at the top of his particular world, he retains a bemused perspective on that world's limitations. Though speckled with celebrities from former President Bill Clinton to the Indigo Girls, the most engaging interviews are with puzzle creator Merl Reagle (who gives a fascinating on-screen demonstration of how he starts making a puzzle) and the witty and garrulous commentary by the former public editor for the Times, Daniel Okrent. Like many recent documentaries, Wordplay is built around a competition: The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, an annual event started by Shortz and embraced by people who have devoted an alarming amount of their brain space to filling squares with letters. Though the movie is not as emotionally involving as Spellbound--still the ne plus ultra of nerdy documentaries--Wordplay's window into its particular subculture will be enjoyable to non-crossword fans as well as committed puzzleheads.--Bret Fetzer |
| Movie Details |
| Genre |
Documentary |
| Director |
Patrick Creadon |
| Producer |
Christine O'Malley |
|
| Studio |
Weinstein Company |
| Country |
USA
|
| Language |
English |
| Audience Rating |
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) |
| Running Time |
85 mins |
| Movie Release Date |
6/23/2006 |
| Color |
Color |
|
| Personal Details |
| Format |
DVD |
| Seen It |
Yes |
| Index |
241 |
| Collection Status |
In Collection |
| Location |
Disc 195 |
|
| Product Details |
| Region |
 Region 1 |
| Screen Ratio |
 Widescreen 1.85:1 Color |
| Layers |
Single Side, Dual Layer |
| UPC (Barcode) |
796019796156 |
| Release Date |
11/7/2006 |
| Subtitles |
Spanish |
| Packaging |
Keep Case |
| Audio Tracks |
 ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 [CC] |
| Nr of Disks/Tapes |
1 |
|
|
Extra Features
|
Feature Commentary with Director Patrick Creadon, The New York Times Crossword Editor Will Shortz and Crossword Constructor Merl Reagle
Deleted Scenes
Interview Gallery
5 Unforgettable Puzzles, Featurettes
Wordplay Goes to Sundance
"Every Word", a Music Video by Gary Louris
Waiting For The New York Times
·A Short Film by Patricia Erens
Wordplay Photo Gallery
DVD-Rom Enabled - 5 Unforgettable Puzzles! |
| Links |
|
|