Reviews

This movie was a pleasant surprise. Of course, you have to at least like crosswords to get into the fun, but you don't have to be a fanatic. There's plenty of humor in the mix as well. A blend of documentary on the life and times of New York Times puzzle editor Will Shortz and on the history of the puzzle community and the puzzle itself, it makes for an entertaining hour and a half. Yes, most of these folks are total geeks, and they will make you feel a bit better about yourself. But then, the movie is sure to point out, not all puzzlers are geeks. Evidence? Bill Clinton and Jon Stewart love the Times puzzle. One of the best sequences shows the construction of a Monday Times puzzle. How the pieces fit together, the thinking that fills in the blanks. What kind of minds thrive on this stuff? That's one thing this film is sure to illuminate. So if you want to geek out with the best of them, line up for this one. But make sure you have a puzzle in reserve, because as soon as you leave the theater you'll be ready to try your hand!

A classic Fellini comedy, with all the atmosphere of a carnival that fans expect. Brunella Bovo is lovely, naive, well-meaning, but lead astray by a philandering playboy. Meanwhile, her new husband seems doomed to appear utterly insane to his family who has come to Rome to meet his blushing bride--suddenly disappeared. Charming, funny, what's not to love? Oh, and Guilietta Masina arrives in her role as the kind and sensual Cabiria--icing on the cake! While certainly not the greatest Fellini film on record, it makes for pleasant viewing. Yes, the behavior of the characters is hardly exemplary, but then, would that be entertaining?