The Words. Hmm...how does one describe Bradley Cooper's The Words? It's the print version of Quiz Show in film. Sure, that may not make a lot of sense until you see the film...and see the film, you should.
Meet Rory Jansen (Cooper). He's an aspiring author who is, well, stuck in aspiration mode. Yeah, he's written some good stuff that would, admittedly, see the light of page--at least according to one literary agent. However, it's a manuscript that no publisher would pick up from a no-name author. Unfortunately, that's Rory's current plight. He and girlfriend, Dora (Zoe Saldana) continue to forge ahead. She's supportive of her guy's ambition, which is a little more than you can say about his dad (J.K. Simmons), who is flipping too many of Rory's bills. Then, a trip to Paris sets the stage for Rory's break...or at least a choice. Dora buys a classy, but weathered old satchel for Rory, which unknowingly contains opportunity. One day as Rory examines the satchel, he finds a manuscript in a hidden compartment. The manuscript is a tale of relationships, love, and pain...in short: life. It's a classic and Rory is prompted to re-create it in digital form. He enters the manuscript into his laptop without nary a word changed. Soon, he comes home to an emotionally moved Dora, who has read the story on his computer and assumed that it is Rory's. Here's where choice meets opportunity with a dash of chance thrown in for good measure. After all, this is presumed to be, and is, a unique tale.
So, Rory takes credit for the work and soon delivers the tale to a publisher. He is as enthralled as Dora. Soon, the book is in print and Rory is the toast of the literary world. His other manuscripts are finding the presses as well, and life is good. Then, Rory is presented with a wrinkle, which comes in the form of an old man (Jeremy Irons). Rory's breakthrough piece was actually the old man's story. Suddenly, Rory is slapped with a very tangible sense of guilt, which had previously been real, yet distant. Now, it's concrete and his dilemma is real. Fess up and face the horrific music? Or, bury the guilt and continue to live the lie? Meanwhile, weaved throughout the story is a description of Rory's tale from author Jay Hammond (Dennis Quaid). His book recounts Rory's deception. Yadayadayada...these lives intersect and unveil a truly conversation piece of a flick.
It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars on this one. It is what is it is and that is an interesting drama and conversation starter. Make no mistake about it. This is a movie where moral dilemma meets relationships and aspirations. It's a flick to think through; and it's worth the intellectual investment.
Quite simply and naturally, The Words poses the question: What would you do? Your dreams are seemingly there for the taking. Just take credit for someone else's work which could possibly give you everything you ever wanted. Or would it? Have you really accomplished said dream if you've relied on someone else to deliver that aspiration for you...while you merely serve as a stand-in for all of the glory shots and speeches??? This certainly causes some unsettling realizations for Rory, which truly slaps him in the face when his plagiarism comes to light. In fact, for Rory, the only relief seems to be found in the story that gave him both life and death.
The movie presents quite the moral dilemma, which draws a natural comparison to Quiz Show. In terms of the story itself, it would seemingly be very difficult to have the opportunity to stand on someone else's shoulders and not claim your dream--all with the mindset that, "Oh, if I do this, it's going to bite me later." Just as in Quiz Show, it's easy to sit back, while looking in the rear view mirror, and say, "I would never have done such a thing." But life is not viewed in hindsight. It lives and breathes in front you with real decisions in real-time. Where a passion for a goal...where the desire to make others around you proud...where the desire for fame and recognition may usurp the need to stay within the lines. All of that culminates, in a moment, to pose tricky forks in the road for certain.
There is another aspect of the movie, which might be somewhat of a spoiler alert. I won't talk about that here, but it's certainly worth discussion. Don't 'comment', but feel free to e-mail me about it.
At any rate, this is a very intriguing tale that is well told through a great cast. If a thought-provoking movie floats your boat, see The Words and see it BIG. If you're just looking for a comedy or action piece or a combination of the two, this one may not be for you at all. You will miss a good story and a nice trip to the think tank.
True...OUT!
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