Wordplay

Patrick Creadon's 2006 documentary approaches puzzle culture from two directions: the people who construct crosswords and the people who compete to solve them. New York Times puzzle editor Will Shortz is watched at work, the constructor Merl Reagle builds a puzzle from nothing, and well-known solvers including Bill Clinton and Jon Stewart describe their habits. The second half takes place at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. What the documentary does best is show how a puzzle is written: Reagle's section demonstrates how much craft it takes to turn an empty grid into a meaningful structure. The tournament section reaches for the tools of sports documentary to build tension and is the more ordinary part. It stays followable for people who do not solve crosswords. Who it's for: viewers interested in puzzles and wordplay who like documentaries about craft. Who it's not for: anyone unfamiliar with English wordplay who will not be able to follow the logic of the puzzles, or who will think the subject narrow.