Bingo!: The Documentary

One normally doesn't associate bingo, that staple of church halls and senior centers, with addictive vices such as casino gambling or racetrack wagering. Yet the urge to be the first in a room full of people to scream “bingo!” continues to drive many into a frenzy that makes playing the slots or the horses seem like benign diversions. John Jeffcoat's entertaining and often disturbing documentary follows this gaming subculture across America (and out to sea--a major ocean line has its own bingo cruises for the hopelessly addicted) and even into international venues (including a massive British bingo palace). Unlike poker and blackjack, which have found a new younger audience via hipster TV programs with B-list stars shuffling endless decks of cards, bingo is still primarily the domain of the senior player (the stereotypical old lady bingo addict is no stereotype, if this film is any indication). Yet Jeffcoat uncovers pockets of activity that may signal the next wave of bingomania, including a trendy bar in New York that rewards winning bingo cards with free drinks, and a Seattle tournament for gay bingoholics that lends a campy-retro flair to the game. Whether bingo will become the next big college craze remains to be seen, but this compelling film confirms that this perennial favorite is still alive and kicking in a variety of places. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (P. Hall)