Review of The Words (2012) by Jiana W — 02 Jun 2013

Every now and then, it's nice to get away from some of the action-packed chase scenes that seem to draw audiences to the movies in droves - especially over the summer months. Now that summer is over, it might be about time to take a breath of fresh air and see a film that doesn't involve a superhero, men wearing black, or a teddy bear that has the ability to talk.

In The Words, Bradley Cooper stars as Rory Jansen, a struggling writer that stumbles upon a briefcase which contains a story that holds the key to launching his career. Shortly after publishing the story, success launches his career. However, an old man (Jeremy Irons) confronts Jansen about publishing this 'thought to be' lost story and from there a plot line within a plot line within a plot line unfolds - all of which revolves around the overlying theme: fame/success vs. choice/consequence. Yes, there's also some romance. Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde, and Dennis Quaid co-star.

It's easy to say the plot becomes predictable about half way through the film (and it does), but films don't always have to be about the sudden 'twist' ending that nobody saw coming. Sometimes it's nice to watch a film and think about the meaning behind the story - in this case it's about the choices we make that affect our lives and the lives of the people around us. It's especially interesting to see what lengths some people will go to in order to touch success.

In any event, that are several major/minor problems with this film (depending how picky your are about your entertainment) that keep it from being a great film - namely the sub-par/predictable plot, mixed with the lack of chemistry between characters (noticeably Wilde and Quaid). However, these issues don't take away from the film experience or emotional impact of the film. Bradley Cooper does a remarkable job and is slowly becoming the next Brad Pitt, while Jeremy Irons shows that even though he's aging, he still has top-notch acting ability.

Overall, it's mind-engaging and will provide for some explosion free entertainment - at least until next week. Enjoy.