“We all make choices in life. The hard thing is to live with them.” —The Old Man
Today’s quick review: The Words. Rory Jansen (Bradley Cooper), a writer struggling to get published, kickstarts his career by passing off a manuscript he found as his own. The book is a hit, giving Rory the success he always dreamed of and letting him make a comfortable home with his wife Dora (Zoe Saldana). But his lie comes back to haunt him when the old man who wrote the manuscript (Jeremy Irons) confronts him about his theft.
The Words is a thriller and romantic drama about an author who plagiarized the story that made him famous. As Rory reaches the pinnacle of his career, the guilt over what he has done threatens to tear him apart, jeopardizing both his work and his marriage with Dora apart. The Words is a story within a story, framed as the latest bestseller by Clay Hammond (Dennis Quaid). Potent writing and a carefully constructed story make it a worthwhile pick.
The Words takes basic building blocks and assembles them into a satisfying whole. Rory’s struggles as a writer, his chance discovery of the manuscript, and the crisis of conscience he faces afterward are not unexpected as far as story devices go, but they play their role well. The gradual escalation of the story, the true origins of the manuscript, and the mystery surrounding Clay Hammond all serve to draw the audience further and further in.
The Words does not have the same bite to it as other thrillers. There is a sense of anticipation, but not much overt suspense. Instead, the conflict plays out at the moral and emotional level. Given the choice between toiling in obscurity and lying his way to success, Rory picks the latter. Seeing him wrestle with the consequences of his choice leads to some interesting tension, while the moment-to-moment writing is polished and effective.
Compared to other movies of its ilk, The Words does not have the same immediate appeal. Its story is slow and indirect, its writing is layered in a way that is only partially effective, and it’s missing some of the emotional payoff that its premise would imply. But for all of that, The Words succeeds at what it tries to do, weaving a morally ambiguous story about the nature of writing, the complexities of romance, and the price of success.
For a sharper thriller with the same style of methodical storytelling, try Gone Girl or The Ghost Writer. For a psychological thriller about an author who plagiarized his work, check out Secret Window. For a crime thriller about a couple torn apart by a moral choice, try Good People.
[7.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840417/). I give it the same for a quiet but compelling story.