Word Wars (Seventh Art Releasing, 2004)

Based on Stefan Fatsis' highly entertaining best-seller Word Freak, producer and co-director Eric Chaikin (an expert player in his own right) documents four of SCRABBLE's finest tile-trackers in all their eccentric glory en route to the 2002 National Championship in San Diego. Matt Graham is a world-class anagrammer who's done some writing for Conan O'Brien and "Saturday Night Live." His crammed apartment houses hundreds of dictionaries and bottles of vitamins referred to as "smart drugs." Graham also has a taste for beer and gambling, and a deep scar across his neck illustrates the recklessness. Marlon Hill purposely speaks Ebonics, despite his vast word knowledge, and plans to relocate to Ghana one day. Temperamental to a fault, he often storms away from a game with expletive-laden tirades when drawing too many vowels. However, Hill has enough patience to teach SCRABBLE to inner-city schoolchildren in his hometown of Baltimore. "G.I." Joel Sherman is a former World Champ whose heroic nickname relates to gastro-intestinal issues. He lists his occupation as "professional SCRABBLE player," as medical problems have rendered him unable to hold a regular 9-to-5. Listen for G.I.'s unique rendition of The Beatles' "Across The Universe." Joe Edley's exacting self-discipline has made him a National Champ in three different decades. He memorized the entire Official Scrabble Players' Dictionary while employed as a night watchman and once lived outdoors for five months. Edley's serious M.O. makes him a favorite target among fellow competitors, and his lecture at a Holiday Inn draws yawns from Sherman and others. Also featured are the outdoor SCRABBLE scene in NYC, a roundtable with several women players, and a brief glimpse inside the Hasbro factory.