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The Words

The Words

Drama · Thriller · 2012

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.

Movie details

The Words

“There's more than one way to take a life.”

2012 Drama · Thriller 1h 42m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.7 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Words?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Lee Sternthal · Brian Klugman

Written by

Lee Sternthal · Brian Klugman

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper

Rory Jansen

Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldaña

Dora Jansen

Jeremy Irons

Jeremy Irons

The Old Man

Dennis Quaid

Dennis Quaid

Clay Hammond

Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde

Danielle

J.K. Simmons

J.K. Simmons

Mr. Jansen

John Hannah

John Hannah

Richard Ford

Court is in session

Put The Words on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.