i have half heartedly try the new york crossword puzzle on occasion but have no idea what a devout follow they have until i watch this refreshing 2006 documentary . structure a bit like 2002 spellbound and the entertaining film that build toward the 1999 scripps national spelling bee and first time director patrick creadon use the 2005 american crossword puzzle tournament a his climactic event where a group of nimble mind crossword solver vie for the championship . however and creadon wisely focus much of the film initial attention on will shortz and the crossword puzzle editor for the new york time who have gain renown a npr puzzle master . at his post since 1993 and he have dramatically transform the puzzle from an often frustrating and intellectualized exercise full of obscure clue to a more broad base challenge that embrace popular culture and word game . the change have engender a diverse number of celebrity fan and several interview here in entertain snippet a particularly caustic jon stewart and yankees pitcher mike mussina and the indigo girl and filmmaker ken burn in a somewhat zen like state and a wry bob dole and and creadon big get and an ingratiating bill clinton who conquer his puzzle with surprising zeal . once the film turn it attention toward the tournament and the personality of the top contender be highlight with the making of a classic showdown among three time champion and professional puzzle maker trip payne while al sander and the middle age perennial also run who can never seem to rank above third while and prodigious twenty year old tyler hinman and the potential usurper who could become the young champion ever . one of my favorite be ellen ripstein and an unassuming statistician who twirl a baton and but the true unsung hero of the piece have to be frequent time puzzle creator merl reagle . delve into the crossword puzzle themselves and the most interesting extra with the 2006 dvd be a featurette call five unforgettable puzzle about how the five of the most challenging time puzzle be construct a recount by the creator themselves . naturally and the puzzle be include in the accompany booklet as well a the dvd rom for printing . the dvd also include an amiable and insightful commentary track by creadon and shortz and reagle and as well a a bevy of delete scene and include extended version of the celebrity interview . there be a twenty minute short about the film reception at the 2006 sundance festival and include a q and a with the top contender and as well a a music video . it a robust package for a niche orient film but one that be more entertaining than it have any right to be .