At
the center of it all: Will Shortz, editor of The New
York Times crossword puzzle and star of the puzzle‑master
segment that airs Sunday mornings on National Public
Radio.
The
film tracks Shortz’s lifelong interest in puzzles and
brain teasers, including his college years, when he
designed his own curriculum at Indiana University and
earned a degree in “enigmatology.”
Creadon
and his wife, producer Christine O’Malley, smartly construct
“Wordplay” with the celebrity power generally upfront
and the drama of the crossword competition held in reserve
for the end.
By
the time you see Stewart yelling defiantly “Come on,
Shortz! Bring it!” at his Times Sunday crossword early
in the film, you’re hooked. The film then radiates outward
for a warm, witty look at the rank‑and‑file
of the world of crossword puzzles.
Shortz’s
band of puzzle creators offers lively glimpses into
how they go about crafting a crossword. Competitors
at Shortz’s annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament
in Stamford, Conn., reflect on how they became engrossed.
The
contest itself is a nail‑biter, with competitors
plotting strategy and racing the clock to finish.
It
may not sound like a great spectator sport, watching
people tear through clues and scribble down answers.
But “Wordplay” spotlights an agonizing turn in the championship
round where defeat displaces certain victory for one
player, the moment as painful as seeing your team’s
star player bounce a three‑point jump shot that
would have won the game off the rim at the buzzer.
What’s
most striking about the tournament players “Wordplay”
features is their camaraderie. They’ve become friends
as well as opponents, forming a community out of what
most of us consider a solitary pastime.
Most
of us also would consider crosswords a slight thing
in our lives. Yet Clinton discusses how doing the Sunday
Times crossword was a diversion that gave him a needed
break from pressing matters in the White House.
If
a crossword puzzle can help a president think more clearly
in a crisis, maybe Shortz should get his own Cabinet
post.
“Wordplay,”
an IFC Films release, is rated PG for some language
and mild thematic elements. Running time: 90 minutes.
Three stars out of four.
