Word Wars, a documentary on the 2002 Scrabble National Championship, is showing on Thursday and Friday (and repeats on Sept. 23rd & 24th).
People have compared it to Spellbound, but the four Scrabble players who are the focus are very different from the student spellers. Eccentric is an understatment. Joe Edley is a three-time champion who does tai chi and is hated by many of his competitors. Marlon Hill talks about his Scrabble success to school kids in Baltimore and smokes joints. Matt Graham and "G.I." Joel Sherman square off in a marathon game all-night round of Scrabble for cash.
But people are passionate about Scrabble. They packed the Roxie in San Francisco during the documentary's limited theatrical run.
Even if you've only played Scrabble a few times, you'll understand the obsession after watching this film.
Slate has reports from this year's championship.
If you don't get Discovery Times, the documentary will eventually be out on DVD and there is a chance it may still play in some theaters.
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