Review of The Words (2012) by Akhil A — 02 Sep 2013

"The Words" isn't trying to be clever, it's a work of art. And like most works of art it tells a story. One that presents us with the complexities of life, the decisions that are made and (most importantly) the ones we must accept.

Through some strong writing, a solid cast, a dreamy Parisian storyline and a magnificent soundtrack, the film both elegantly folded and unfolded (when it needed to), while making me taste the character's love and misery.

If the film had a weakness it was Olivia Wilde's character and performance, however I found that Quaid made up for it in most cases.

I especially enjoyed the final scene, with Quaid staring at the camera. It left me staring endlessly at the credits, trying to imagine how I'd cope with the situation.

So in sum this movie feels greatly misunderstood, not because of complexity or poor cinematics, but that it's being viewed through some very logical eyes. Logic isn't everything, and for some films it must hold a lesser significance.

"The Words" is a subtle beauty, and like the look in Ben Barnes' eyes as he glows across the room at his crying newborn, I will not forget it.