The Words (2012)
Average Rating: 4.6/10
Reviews Counted: 114
Fresh: 25 | Rotten: 89
Neither as clever nor as interesting as it appears to think it is, The Words maroons its talented stars in an overly complex, dramatically inert literary thriller that's ultimately a poor substitute for a good book.
Average Rating: 5/10
Critic Reviews: 34
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 28
Neither as clever nor as interesting as it appears to think it is, The Words maroons its talented stars in an overly complex, dramatically inert literary thriller that's ultimately a poor substitute for a good book.
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Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 45,565
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Movie Info
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
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Cast
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Bradley Cooper
Rory Jansen -
Jeremy Irons
The Old Man -
Dennis Quaid
Clay Hammond -
Olivia Wilde
Daniella, Danielle -
Zoe Saldana
Dora Jansen -
Ben Barnes
Young Man -
John Hannah
Richard Ford -
Vito DeFilippo
New York Apartment Door... -
Michael McKean
Nelson Wylie -
Lucinda Davis
Vendor -
J.K. Simmons
Mr. Jansen -
James Babson
Dan Zuckerman -
Ron Rifkin
Timothy Epstein, Timot... -
Brian Klugman
Jason Rosen -
Elizabeth Stauber
Camy Rosen -
Nora Arnezeder
Celia -
Gianpaolo Venuta
Dave Farber -
Raphael Grosz-Harvey
Soldier #1 -
Brent Skagford
Soldier #2 -
Andrew T. Mackay
Soldier #3 -
Zeljko Ivanek
Joseph Cutler -
Gloria Cooper
Rory's Mother -
Weston Middleton
Nick Weinstein -
Lee Sternthal
Brett Cropsey -
Holden Wong
Fordham's Assistant -
Daniel Gervais
Fordham's Assistant -
Anders Yates
Clay Hammond's Assistan... -
Jean-Marie Montbarbut du ...
Paris Doctor -
Robert-Paul Chauvelot
Conductor -
Leni Parker
Journalist -
Sebastien Pilotte
Celia's Husband -
Emile Rivard
Celia's Child -
David Gow
Hotel Desk Clerk -
Kathleen Fee
Woman on the Bus -
Keeva Lynk
Cynthia -
Jeanie Hackett
Joyce Weinstein -
Gordon Masten
Elderly Man -
Jude Beny
Elderly Woman -
Mark Camacho
Fan
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The Words Trailer & Photos
All Critics (114) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (90) | DVD (3)
A mostly middling drama.
Top CriticThe story-within-a-story-within-a-story is so slight and inconsequential, like the tiniest of a set of Russian nesting dolls, that we may be forgiven for letting our minds wander toward bedtime and tomorrow's errands.
The premise is ambitious -- if not a little hokey -- but the meager themes of ephemeral authorship and constructed realities aren't exactly revelatory.
Bradley Cooper's funniest movie since "The Hangover" - unfortunately, unintentionally this time ...
This film's layered storytelling lacks the fluidity, grace, or good humour, to pull off its conceit.
Romanticized claptrap.
Its long, dry patches of colourless storytelling suggest it makes more sense as a book, one to read before you fall asleep to dream of better movies.
In a relevant study of plagiarism, influences and lifetime experiences, The Words chiefly reminds us that the past is indelible.
Like a Russian nesting doll, this film tells a story within a story within another story, playing around with fact and fiction, as well as the nature of creative inspiration and integrity.
The Words has a fascinating story at its core, but the unnecessary extra layer only serves to hurt the film and makes the ending a bit of a mess.
Bradley Cooper may be getting the most attention of his career for his laudable turn in Silver Linings Playbook, but his performance in this film is an overlooked gem about a writer struggling with his own morals.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, makes 'The Words' interesting.
The Words becomes one of the year's most irritating movies.
Engrossing morality tale about lying, guilt and just how great a character actor Jeremy Irons has turned into.
I like the idea but The Words is a little too preachy, too melodramatic for my liking.
This isn't an Oscar-contending powerhouse drama; it's a film dedicated to expressing its message.
Melodrama built on a shallow, contrived literary device.
Literary soapie The Words is mutton dressed as bespectacled lamb.
A fable and a lesson, but it is a thoroughly enjoyable one, delivered with masterful performances and a great sense of storytelling tradition
A wonderful screenplay in which three stories are skilfully interwoven to deliver a rich and satisfying film that questions integrity above all else
Maybe it's the timing of the release, coming at the dead zone of post-summer and pre-fall cinematic fare..but 'The Words' has enough going for it to be recommended.
A dreadful misfire, particularly for Cooper, who is otherwise pursuing an interesting career trajectory away from The Hangover series.
Despite an exposition-heavy outer layer, The Words delivers on 2/3 threads that it presents and offers a somewhat evocative meditation on truth.
One of the meatiest movies of the year ...
Things get confusing whenever Quaid appears as the audience is never sure if he is the real bogus author or if Cooper even exists.
"The Words" seems to have jumbled the lines and created a melodrama that is a sore disappointment.
Audience Reviews for The Words
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- The Old Man: We all make difficult choices in life. The hard thing is to live with them.
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- The Old Man: Was he a writer? [in reference to Hemingway]
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- The Old Man: We all make choices. The hard thing is to live with them, and there ain't nobody that can help you with that.
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- Dora Jansen: We don't have any money.
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- The Old Man: We all make difficult choices in life. The hard thing is to live with them.
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- The Old Man: Don't bullshit an old bullshiter.
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Please explain that ending.... | 3 months ago | 9 |
Latest News on The Words
September 7, 2012:
Critics Consensus: The Words Doesn't Know What To SayThis week at the movies, we?ve got a literary fraud (The Words, starring Bradley Cooper and Zoë...
September 6, 2012:
Rotten Tomatoes Radio: Episode 14For episode 14, we'll be talking about the scores for The Cold Light of Day, The Words, and the...
September 6, 2012:
Total Recall: Liars, Hoaxers, and FraudsIn this weekend's The Words, Bradley Cooper plays a struggling young writer who stumbles across a...
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Foreign Titles
- Der Dieb der Worte (DE)
- El ladrón de palabras (ES)
