The Word on Wordplay

And now for something less serious in nature. The other night my wife and I saw a very entertaining movie called Wordplay. The focal point of the movie is Will Shortz, who was been the New York Times Crossword Puzzle Editor for 25 years. However, the movie also tells the history of crossword puzzles, focuses on the people who make and solve crossword puzzles, and culminates with the annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament created by Will Shortz. It was fascinating to see how crossword puzzles are created, and the collaboration that goes on between the creators and Will Shortz. It was amazing to see how fast the top crossword puzzle players can solve the New York Times puzzles. In one scene, the gentleman clocked himself in at just over two minutes. There were interesting interviews with famous crossword puzzle players such as Bill Clinton, Jon Stewart, Mike Mussina, and the Indigo Girls. Finally, it was great to see the camaraderie and sense of family of the people who come back year after year to play in the tournament created by Will Shortz. You are not likely to find this film at the local megaplex but it is worthwhile to see if there are theaters nearby specializing in independent films. If you cannot find a theater playing Wordplay, then definitely put it on your Netflix list.