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Sometimes a movie comes along that you either love or hate. The Words seems to be one of those films. When it first came out in 2012, reviews were either very positive or very negative. However, I’m one of the lovers of this film. In no way is it perfect, but it’s got a lot more going for it than against. Presently, it’s available for streaming on Amazon Prime.

The Words is a story within a story, within yet another story, and you may have to give the film a little time before you understand the complexity of what is actually going on. The first level of reality involves Dennis Quaid as novelist Clay Hammond who has been invited to read selections from his novel to a literature-loving audience. As he reads, we meet the characters from his novel who make up the second level of reality where most of the story resides. The third level lies within the story told by an old man in the second level. I know it sounds complicated, and it is. But it will all come together.

Bradley Cooper is Rory Jansen, the main character from Hammond’s novel. Jansen is an aspiring novelist who wants glamour, glitz, admiration, and everything the literary life has to offer. The only problem is that he’s not a good enough writer to get published. His beautiful girlfriend and later wife Dora (Zoe Saldana) has faith in him. His father (J.K. Simmons from Whiplash) keeps giving him money to live on until the situation reaches a breaking point.

The story changes when Rory realizes he has to get a job. He works at a publishing house, while at the same time getting to know editors and agents. He can now afford to marry Dora, and they’re off to Paris for their honeymoon. Not much happens in Paris except for Rory and Dora visiting an antiques shop, where Dora buys Rory an old leather satchel that she thinks will give him a classy look as he tries to market his writing.

I don’t want to give away too much, but in short, Rory finds a World War II era manuscript in the satchel. It’s better than anything he’s ever written. He publishes it as his own and becomes famous. That’s when the old man (Jeremy Irons, in another amazing role) who actually wrote the book years before shows up.

Serious questions arise. Does Rory confess his plagiarism and face the consequences? Does it destroy his life or does he deal with it? And what about Clay Hammond: did he write an autobiography of how he stole another man’s novel, or is it just fiction?

The Words is a movie that will make you think. It’s a film with long conversations, but no car chases or blazing guns. Don’t expect action or thrills. Instead, expect the suspense that comes from wanting questions answered and having to wait. If this sounds good, you’ll be among those who love this film.

 

 

Reviewed by: Tom Bell on June 26, 2015