The Words
User Score
6.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 44
  3. Negative: 7 out of 44

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  1. amboy
    Sep 20, 2012
    3
    This is a film with high pretensions and almost no content. It brings up issues of honesty, plagiarism, moral responsibility and finally has nothing to say about them. It's all gift wrapping and no content. The actors are all fine (Zoe Saldana is irresistible), but they are working in a vacuum. The ending, like that of Arbitrage, is annoyingly inconclusive, but so is everything else.
  2. JoeCalgary
    Oct 7, 2012
    3
    Interesting premise: unpublished writer steals someone's novel, passes it off as his own, and gets away with it until the original author shows up. But giving this to us as a story within a story within a story makes for at least one story too many. Plus, there are elements in the film that simply defy credibility. The original author dashed off the novel in two weeks and the book made it into print without a rewrite? I don't think so. I also find it hard to believe that an author would spend what seems like two hours reading from his book to an audience without taking questions afterwards.… Expand
  3. jwalshct
    Jan 1, 2013
    1
    This is one of the worst films I have ever seen. I had to watch it to the end to see how bad it would be and it really was terrible. Not one of the portrayals rang true. Every major player looked like they were out for an easy payday. The post war locales in France were laughable. The storyline was totally unbelievable. All of the players have done some fine work in the past, but this really stinks.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
37 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 30 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 30
  3. Negative: 9 out of 30
  1. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Melissa Anderson
    Sep 9, 2012
    30
    Hoariest of all are the exhortations to make distinctions between "fiction" and "life."
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  2. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    Sep 8, 2012
    30
    The movie, written and directed by Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal, is desultory when it's not inept, but the set-up is so good that you can't help sticking it out to the (unforgivable) end.
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  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Adam Markovitz
    Sep 8, 2012
    33
    Cooper, who looks appealingly wolfish in his expensively tailored suits, plays the whole thing with a dutiful, earnest expression lacquered on his face, his eyes misting on cue at the exact same moments yours will be rolling into the back of your head.
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