It's All About the Wordplay

by Elyssa Shapiro

The clever minds who construct and solve the puzzling New York Times crosswords are the subject of the documentary “Wordplay.” The documentary begins by breaking down the crossword-making process with commentaries from the puzzle master himself, Will Shortz, and his partner, Merl Reagle.

The audience is introduced to an assortment of both familiar and unfamiliar faces each with a tale about why they love the Times crosswords. Big names like Bill Clinton, Jon Stewart, and Yankee’s pitcher Mike Mussina add their personal anecdotes.

However, the documentary really focuses on the participants of the annual crossword competition in Stamford, Conn. Some are previous champions, and others young hopefuls, like 20-year-old wiz Tyler. The contestants are all preparing for the chance to be the New York Times “Crossword Champ” title.

Theatrical Trailer

Official Web site of the Movie