...The Underdogs

Summer is full of blockbusters, but I have seen a couple of smaller films recently that I loved.

First, Wordplay



Due to his numerous bestsellers, I was more than aware of the name Will Shortz. So, I was interested when I first heard rumblings of this doc. I don't really do crosswords myself, but I have friends and relatives who are really into it. This movie showed me just how crazy people can be about their puzzles. I'm talking Tom Cruise crazy here.

Anyway, this film is highly entertaining and I can't recommend it enough. The film makers did a great job of interspersing celebs with real life crossword puzzle tournament contestants which offered a nice blend of information and humor. I even found myself anxious about who would win the contest that already took place over a year ago.

Earlier this summer, I saw Brick



When first reading about the movie, I was immediately hooked into its premise: a film noir murder mystery set in high school. Although the high school and its attendants are modern, the dialogue is hard boiled (think Vernoica Mars with dialogue from a Jules Dassin flick). The juxtaposition of this dialogue with the setting of the movie was jarring for a while, but you soon settle into the flow including the quirks and humor it provides.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is proving to be a formidable actor who is willing to take on challenging roles. Just look to one the best movies of last year, Mysterious Skin, for further proof. He's come a long way form 3rd Rock From The Sun!

I think this one may have been making the rounds for a while, but look out for it on DVD on August 8th (two days after my birthday!)