Word Wars - Tiles and Tribulations on the Scrabble Game Circuit

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Customer Reviews:

Needs more Fatsis, but still a fascinating film of an obsessive subculture [Posted on 2007-02-17]
'Word Wars' quite obviously has its genesis in Stefan Fatsis' outstanding book 'Word Freak,' a fascinating look at the Scrabble subculture. That said, I wish the movie used more of Fatsis. He appears here with some commentary, and the filmmakers note Fatsis' book and his immersion into the playing circuit. His observations on the game and its personalities at the tournament circuit's upper echelons are the best part of the movie. Additionally, Fatsis' book and this movie have resulted in ESPN now showing some of these tournaments. Fatsis is the analyst on these telecasts. His journalism background + his Scrabble cultural immersion make his commentary fascinating.

Fatsis does have his own Scrabble movie ('Scrabylon'), and that may have played a part. In truth, Fatsis' smaller role is probably due to the filmmakers' treasure trove of material resulting from its coverage of four of the nationally-ranked players. Frankly - and these guys would be the first to admit it - these are four less-than-fully-formed human beings. That's the fascination of the movie. Only one of the four has anything nearly resembling a 'job' as the general public would see it. These gentlemen have filled their lives with their Scrabble obsession.

It's of extremely good fortune for the filmmakers that one of the four featured individuals eventually triumphs that year - in front of the cameras - at the Nationals.

By the way, for viewers of the film, here's a neat kick: go to Stefan Fatsis' 'Word Freak' here on these pages and you'll see the spotlight review written by none other than G.I. Joel himself, Joel Sherman.

Best Scrabble Documentary! [Posted on 2007-05-13]
If you enjoy puzzle games or strategic competition, you should definitely see this movie; and, of course, if you're a Scrabble fan, too. This film does a great job depicting both the game, the brand, and the individual players involved.

word warriors [Posted on 2007-06-14]
Unlike its linguistic cousins about the national spelling bee (Spellbound) and crossword puzzles (Word Play), this documentary film never rises to the level of the mighty social phenomenon that it describes--Scrabble. My mother played Scrabble every day during her lunch hour; her battered board game was the one momento from her estate that I wanted. The film tries to build anticipation by tracking the nine months leading up to the 2002 US National championship in San Diego where 700 scrabblers compete for a first prize of $25,000. The narrative follows four word warriors who are not only uninteresting but unlikable: Matt Graham (ranked #7 in the country), Joel Sherman (#13), Marlon Hill (#29), and Joe Edey (#1). Except for Edey, none of these guys has anything like a normal life or job; they play Scrabble all day and are penniless. Hill sports dread locks and a foul mouth. Sherman is a college drop out obsessed by his acid reflux. Graham uses brain boosters. The film could have done more with average players like the neighbors who play outside in NYC's Washington Square, the Scrabble club at an elementary school, or people like my mom. Unfortunately, this is a mediocre film about a great game.

Obsession . . . [Posted on 2007-08-04]
A movie about Scrabble that needs an R rating? For language and drug use, this one qualifies. That mild-mannered national champion on the Today Show who looks like an accountant? Would you believe he's an obsessed man, living on Maalox and pumped up on whatever is the Scrabbler's form of steroids? This amusing and informative documentary reveals the shadowy underside of what looks like a pretty harmless, even rarified pastime. But leave your assumptions and stereotypes at the door.

The four Division 1 players that the filmmakers follow for 9 months are not somebody you'd probably like to know in real life. Lacking social skills (let alone social graces) they live in a twilight zone of words, words, words (forget what they mean, as long as they're in the official dictionary) and the inability to focus on anything else. When it's all over, you can shake your head and thank your lucky stars you never got hooked on this drug yourself. Not that the Game is the only addictive substance in the film. One player happily blunts his anxieties with whatever he's smoking in that pipe plus a trip to Tijuana for dubious R&R. In spite of it all, you'll find yourself cheering along with everyone else for the winner of the national championship. It's that kind of movie.

a fun look at the quirkiness of Scrabble players [Posted on 2007-08-08]
It's really amazing that people take Scrabble as seriously as they do in this film. These guys are really brilliant, and this movie is at times humorous, and at times very moving in its portrayal of their lives as they pursue the championchip. It's a good documentary and definitely worth watching.

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