![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() They know and tolerate each other, but aren't really friends. Filmmakers Eric Chaikin and Julian Petrillo worry less about the game than getting into the heads of these four chaps, none of whom is easily likable. Watching "Word Wars," I was reminded of "Spellbound," the Oscar-nominated documentary about the 1999 National Spelling Bee, and wondered if this is what happens to those obsessive, driven kids who fail to win the Spelling Bee. Joel's preferred beverage is Maalox Marlon plays the angry black man, but uses his skills to help an inner-city school's Scrabble Club Matt's more often broke than not and three-time national champ Joe uses meditation and tai chi to psyche out his opponents, but often is so full of himself, he doesn't realize how dull his lecture on winning strategies is. The four players we meet - "G.I." Joel (gets his nickname because his gastrointestinal system's a mess and he isn't shy about it), Matt, Marlon and Joe - have turned winning Scrabble tournaments into their lives' mission. The people in "Word Wars" live for Scrabble. But for most of us, it's still only a game, not an obsession. Scrabble-lovers know what it's like to be hooked by the game. ![]()
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