Words and Pictures Review
RYAN: I was unable to attend the press screening for Words and Pictures, so my associate, Chuck, took one for the team! Thanks for helping out, Chuck – How was it?
CHUCK: It’s pretty good. It’s not a big movie but I was interested in seeing it since I was familiar with the director, Fred Schepisi, who did Roxanne and Six Degrees of Separation. It stars Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche as rival teachers at an upscale New England prep school. They basically spend the whole movie arguing over which is more powerful: words or pictures; thus the title.
RYAN: Wow, that’s literal for you. How are the stars?
CHUCK: Really strong. They have a great chemistry that you can feel through barbed banter and effortless acting. It doesn’t hurt, either, that they are both easy on the eyes. It was great to see Juliette in a role she could really embody after she was last seen as a throw away character in this summer’s Godzilla, you know?
RYAN: Totally. What did you think of the story? Is it really a rom com like it’s being sold? Or is it more of a drama?
CHUCK: Definitely more of a drama. It’s certainly being promoted as a rom com; and although it does have its moments of levity and romance, it really is more of a drama about two broken souls finding their paths to each other. It starts with a great premise but runs out of steam. It does pose some powerful questions like what really is art, and whether it’s possible for a once-successful artist to get re-inspired after life’s problems get in their way; but I’m not sure how successful it is in answering them.
RYAN: Oh that’s unfortunate. A well developed arc is always preferred.
CHUCK: Exactly. I was also disappointed a bit because I really like this director when he did Six Degrees of Separation. In that movie, he was so visual and really made NYC a part of the story but none of what I know he can really bring to a film was evident here. And the score was pretty weak which also toned the whole thing down.
RYAN: So I guess this one is really more about the casting than the story or direction.
CHUCK: Yeah and I had no idea that Juliette was a painter in real life. She’s so talented and you see some of her real work in the film. She has a powerful, touching moment as relates to her art that I really liked.
RYAN: Does she outshine Clive?
CHUCK: Not really. But his character is rather cliche. He plays a washed up, alcoholic writer whose strained relationship with his son is the only subplot that works. There are numerous scenes of heartbreak between the two of them. It’s also his character that causes the two moments in the film when I actually gasped in surprise and shock.
RYAN: Oh! Now I’m curious… love those moments in films but no spoilers!
CHUCK: Course not! Despite its flaws, I really liked it. The movie hinges on the strong performances of its leads. But do you need to run to the theater to see it? No. Better to watch at home with a bunch of friends so you can continue the verbal battle of which is more powerful, words or pictures?
RYAN: If you’re even interested in that battle. (laughs) Thanks for the review Chuck!
