WordPlay

As stated in my previous blog entry, my co-worker creates crosswords, which get published in various newspapers like the New York Times, and he recommended that I should see the movie Wordplay: The Movie. Finally last week I got to see this movie and I have to say I liked it. It's a documentary about people who love constructing, editing or solving crossword puzzles. The featured people in the movie are:
  1. Will Shortz - The crossword editor for the New York Times which sets the standard for crossword puzzles.
  2. Merl Reagle - A crossword constructor. A crossword constructor is a person who constructs crossword puzzles
  3. Daniel Orkent - The former crossword editor for the New York Times. He also has a special in my heart since he invented rotisserie baseball
  4. Trip Payne - A crossword constructor and one of the best crossword puzzle solvers.
  5. Ellen Ripstein - A crossword editor and one of the previous winners of the crossword championships
  6. Tyler Hinman - A twenty or twenty one year old crossword genius
  7. Jon Delphin - A seven time crossword tournament winner
  8. Al Sanders - A Hewlett Packard project manager who has come second or third in numerous Crossword tournaments
  9. Bill Clinton - The 42nd President of the US and loves crossword puzzles
  10. Mike Mussina - A Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently playing for the New York Yankees and yes he likes solving crossword puzzles.
  11. Ken Burns - A crossword lover and a documentary film maker. He made movies like: Baseball: A film by Ken Burns (movie that made me a baseball fan), and Brooklyn Bridge
  12. Jon Steward - He loves crosswords and he is the host of "The Daily Show".
  13. Indigo Girls - A music grow who loves to solve crossword puzzles
Personally the movie made me want to get better doing crossword puzzles. Here are some videos I found about people in Wordplay on YouTube. Enjoy!

The WordPlay movie trailer:


Here is a video starting Merl Reagle on how Merl jots his new clues when they pop in his head


A Forbes video which is an interview with Will Shortz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWOd3_XfWKo

An interview with Patrick Creadon, the producer of WordPlay. They talk about creating the movie.


Ellen Ripstein profile from the movie:


Indigo Girls talk about their love for crossword pruzzles in the movie


Gary Louris plays the theme song from the movie.


If you have seen the movie, you would understand why I put these videos. It is the 2007 The American Crossword Tournament finals.

Part 1 of 3:


Part 2 of 3:


Part 3 of 3:


Hope you enjoyed this blog entry. If you haven't seen the movie WordPlay then please rent it. If not then go pick up a crossword puzzle and solve it. Good luck!

Comments

Michelle said…
You don't want to get too good at them, because most of the avid solvers seemed to be pretty dorky. We wouldn't want that, now would we?
April 14, 2007 at 8:42:00 PM EST
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