“The Words” a film about a writer

“The Words”
A Film About a Writer
Post Written by Jennifer Kiley
Illustrated by j. kiley
Trailer of “The Words” with Bradley Cooper
Created June 18th 2013
Posted June 19th 2013

POSTER 1

Movie Synopsis

Starring Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde and Zoë Saldana, the layered romantic drama The Words follows young writer Rory Jansen who finally achieves long sought after literary success after publishing the next great American novel. There’s only one catch – he didn’t write it. As the past comes back to haunt him and his literary star continues to rise, Jansen is forced to confront the steep price that must be paid for stealing another man’s work, and for placing ambition and success above life’s most fundamental three words.

The Word —- Official Trailer [HD] with Bradley Cooper (2012)

THE WORDS

SYNOPSIS:
After a couple of demoralising rejections, young writer Rory Jansen (Bradley Cooper) finally achieves long sought literary success with his latest novel and enjoys the change from poverty to glittering awards, in the company of his beautiful and adoring wife Dora (Zoe Saldana). The fact that he didn’t write it only becomes problematic when an old man (Jeremy Irons) in Central Park sits next to him on a bench and tells him the sad but true story behind the manuscript.

Review by Louise Keller:
The Words is a gripping film that plays mercilessly with the mind as it explores the precipice that divides the world of real life and fiction. Directors Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal have written a wonderful screenplay in which three stories are skilfully interwoven to deliver a rich and satisfying film that questions integrity above all else. A successful author, an old man and a university graduate are the key players in this intriguing story with themes about choices, truths and deceits and whose elements of drama, mystery and romance are played out in beguiling fashion. There are struggles, choices, highs and lows and the inevitable consequences.

The film’s structure is interesting in that there is a story within a story and yet another story within. It is credit to the screenwriters that the transition from one to the other is seamless; we are never confused or unsure as to which story is which. The narrative begins in the present with the acclaim of lauded author Clay Hammond (Dennis Quaid, excellent), who is reading excerpts of his latest book The Words to a receptive audience.

We are then taken into the world of Hammond’s fictional character, a struggling writer named Rory (Bradley Cooper at his best) who is eager to make his mark. His wife Dora (Zoe Saldana, lovely) believes in him even though Rory is infected by self-doubt. It is on their honeymoon when Dora buys Rory an old briefcase, that fate plays its hand. When Rory finds the anonymous manuscript hidden in the briefcase, he devours the words of the story, wishing that he had written them himself. It starts innocently enough – he wants his fingers to feel the impact of the words as he retypes them…. The essence of the story, set in war-time Paris resonates to such an extent, he accepts a deal with the devil – and claims it as his own work.

Just like Ralph Fiennes in Quiz Show (1994) who cheats his way to success, so too does Rory, as his novel The Window Tears is acclaimed. Cooper is physically reminiscent of Fiennes and ably conveys the journey of the ambitious writer whose love affair with words challenges his moral compass. But it is Jeremy Irons, impeccably cast as the old man, who steals the film, bring real pathos. Irons is devastatingly good and he imparts the pain and anger of a stranger taking ownership of an integral part of his life involving the people who matter most. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up in the scene when The Old Man approaches Rory in the park, sits on the bench beside him and as he feeds the birds, tells some home truths.

Then, with Iron’s rich, distinctive voice as narrator, The Old Man’s story is subsequently told in flashback: a young man (Ben Barnes) falls in love with beautiful French girl Celia (Nora Arnezeder) in 1940s Paris. Devoured by the pain of the events that transpire, the young man types the manuscript when he is at his most vulnerable: it represents the essence of who he is.

Klugman and Sternthal play with time frames most effectively and by the time we return to the present in which the aspiring writer grad student (Olivia Wilde) flirts outrageously with Hammond, it is clear that real life and fiction have become inexorably intertwined beyond redemption. Or has it? This is top drawer story telling for those who like their films to challenge the mind as well as the heart. My kind of film.

Remember, Remember — Dario Marianelli (V for Vendetta)

COMMENT FROM Jk the secret keeper: “Here is the following note I left for my partner in an email I am about to send her. She gets up when I am sound asleep. And she is sleeping now. It will tell you that I am so taken by what I have found out about this film that I am so desperate and patient at the same time. I feel like I am going to lose my mind from the excitement. I should add that I recently had surgery and I haven’t been able to drive for a whole month. Now I don’t think one can forget after just a month of not doing it but it is a new car and I have actually only driven it a few times since we got it. It is my partner’s car. Soon to be mine. I have named him “Andrew.” I like naming my cars. Last one was named “Annie” long before I named the character in my book. Annie is a significant name in my life that goes back into my childhood. Very personal. Anyway, here is the note. In caps. Not shouting. Just for emphasis. It is also multi-coloured so I need to put it on a framed poster. Here it is:

they have the words poster by j. kiley written by Jk…m

QUOTATIONS on STEALING:

“Man is not, by nature, deserving of all that he wants. When we think that we are automatically entitled to something, that is when we start walking all over others to get it.” ― Criss Jami

“Steal not this book for fear of shame
For on it is the owners name
And when you die the Lord will say
Where is the book you stole away
And when you say you do not know
The Lord will say go down below.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Emily of New Moon