Words and Pictures

Name: Words and Pictures
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: May 23, 2014
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 49
Cast: Amy Brenneman, Bruce Davison, Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche

2014

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Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Ratings

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5.8

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5.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Ratings

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Words And Pictures

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Movie Details & Credits

Roadside Attractions | Release Date: May 23, 2014 | PG-13

Starring: Amy Brenneman, Bruce Davison, Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche

Summary: Prep school English teacher Jack Marcus (Clive Owen) laments his students' obsession with social media and good grades rather than engaging with the power of the written word. A one-time literary star, Jack has not published in years filling his spare time with drink versus the art of language. He meets his match in Dina Delsanto (JuliettePrep school English teacher Jack Marcus (Clive Owen) laments his students' obsession with social media and good grades rather than engaging with the power of the written word. A one-time literary star, Jack has not published in years filling his spare time with drink versus the art of language. He meets his match in Dina Delsanto (Juliette Binoche)—an abstract painter and new teacher on campus, who was once celebrated for her art. From the start, the two flirt and provoke each other with equal relish. With a performance review looming and his teaching job on the line, Jack hatches an inspired plan for galvanizing student interest in their studies: he declares a war between Words and Pictures, confident that the former can convey greater meaning than the latter. Dina and her art students accept the challenge between Jack and his English students, and the battle lines are drawn.… Expand

Director: Fred Schepisi

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 111 min

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Critic Reviews

Claudia Puig

Jun 5, 2014

A thoughtful film about ideas — creativity, the power of language and the eloquence of visuals — it features two impeccable performances full of vitality. Read full review

Peter Rainer

May 23, 2014

Words and Pictures is a minor effort from Schepisi, but minor Schepisi still trumps most of what’s out there. Read full review

Steven Rea

Jun 6, 2014

A kind of Tracy/Hepburn rom-com with a "Dead Poets Society" backdrop and dollops of human failing for added drama, Words and Pictures stars Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche - a matchup that makes you want to like Fred Schepisi's film, even when it becomes impossible to do so. Read full review

McClatchy-Tribune News Service Roger Moore

May 21, 2014

Words and Pictures is the cloying title of a cloying little comedy made by talented people who, not that long ago, deserved better than this, and knew it. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Jun 4, 2014

The story is rather creaky, but who cares when the actors Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche are so sublime together? Even though the film creates an artificial construct that rings hollow, the two central characters generate great heat and interest. Their presence is enough to keep the film’s nattering foolishness at bay. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

May 22, 2014

In the end, the only question of consequence that the story poses is whether superior acting can prevail over inferior writing. The answer lies not in the stars. Read full review

Kyle Smith

May 21, 2014

Clive Owen stumbles around the scenery doing unfortunate drunken-writer shtick in Words and Pictures, a formula movie whose script is yet more unfortunate. Read full review

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User Reviews

amboy

Jun 21, 2014

This is an updated version of the kind of movie Hepburn and Tracy used to star in--a romantic comedy in which competition and hostility turns into love. The updating is darker, less breezy--both are wounded animals--her ability to paint compromised by rheumatoid artrhritis; his ability toThis is an updated version of the kind of movie Hepburn and Tracy used to star in--a romantic comedy in which competition and hostility turns into love. The updating is darker, less breezy--both are wounded animals--her ability to paint compromised by rheumatoid artrhritis; his ability to write compromised by alcoholism, The movie is distinguished by a smart, literate script and stunning performances. Juliette Binoche, either carefully made up or with n o makeup at all, is a beautiful sight, and sher catches the toughness, warmth, and humor of the character to perfection. But it is Clive Owen's movie--a late scene when he apologizes to his son is a study in shame and Owen shrinks to half his size. It's the achievement of his or of anyone's career--simply remarkable work. Schepisi's direction is flawless.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Brent_Marchant

Jun 8, 2014

Despite a few plot devices that don't work, as well as some cliched narrative elements that could have used a little tweaking, "Words and Pictures" is a charming slice of life, battle-of-wits rom-com that's a cut above the typical fare of this genre. The pairing of Owen and Binoche isDespite a few plot devices that don't work, as well as some cliched narrative elements that could have used a little tweaking, "Words and Pictures" is a charming slice of life, battle-of-wits rom-com that's a cut above the typical fare of this genre. The pairing of Owen and Binoche is terrific, and they have great chemistry together, elevating the material to a level that lesser performers would not have been able to do.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TVJerry

Jun 16, 2014

Clive Owen is the prep school English instructor with demons, including alcohol. The new art teacher (Juliette Binoche) has her own challenges, but as you expect, they end up together. Meanwhile, they inspire their students with a battle between writing and art. Despite that fact that theClive Owen is the prep school English instructor with demons, including alcohol. The new art teacher (Juliette Binoche) has her own challenges, but as you expect, they end up together. Meanwhile, they inspire their students with a battle between writing and art. Despite that fact that the script is predictable and spends too much time selling its intellectual points, all of the performances are engaging, especially Owen who is compelling & Binoche who is enchanting. Combine that with crisp direction and this slight little romance takes on an agreeable slant.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

jgzeger

Aug 12, 2016

The critics got it right. This movie is a clunker. Juliette Binoche gives a good performance, as always, but that is the only good thing I can say about it. The plot line about an English teachers personal war with an art teacher about whether literature or painting is the superior medium isThe critics got it right. This movie is a clunker. Juliette Binoche gives a good performance, as always, but that is the only good thing I can say about it. The plot line about an English teachers personal war with an art teacher about whether literature or painting is the superior medium is dumb. Furthermore, haven't we seen movies about a self-absorbed alcoholic writer before? Give this movie a miss. It is boring and demands great perseverance to see it through to the end.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GinaK

Sep 21, 2014

If you set a film at a prep school and picture basically obedient, ideally brought up students, this is about as good as you can manage to get. The debate, although kind of fudged at the end, was reasonably good (given the setting and all those unrealistically nice young people), but theIf you set a film at a prep school and picture basically obedient, ideally brought up students, this is about as good as you can manage to get. The debate, although kind of fudged at the end, was reasonably good (given the setting and all those unrealistically nice young people), but the main symbolic characters, other than the one played by Juliette Binoche, were pretty cliché. I admire Clive Owen for trying, but his drinking was not really convincing and frankly as a former English major, I found him a bit insulting and over the top. Not all – or most of – literature is edifying. Much of it is very dark actually. Binoche had the far easier character – she was made cold by real physical suffering – something no one made much of – no one asked why this great painter was stricken (told you there were very few dark thoughts in here), but Binoche was convincing in her depiction of the pain and frustration of her disease and also quite good at being curt and insulting, but after all, she is French. It is to Schepsi’s discredit that he chose this setting for his debate, but to his credit that the film worked at all and nobody threw any shoes at the screen. I guess we felt sorry for the actors who did a great job considering what they had to work with.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Lyn

Sep 28, 2014

Love Clive Owen. Love Juliette Binoche. Would love to see them in a film worthy of their talents. Each makes a valiant effort to enliven the "words vs. picture" premise, though the basic plot is so minuscule it could be covered in a sitcom. For me a big problem is that their two charactersLove Clive Owen. Love Juliette Binoche. Would love to see them in a film worthy of their talents. Each makes a valiant effort to enliven the "words vs. picture" premise, though the basic plot is so minuscule it could be covered in a sitcom. For me a big problem is that their two characters are not evenly matched, talentwise. Binoche is presented as a brilliant artist (and she actually did the art in the movie!) while Owen's character mostly quotes others. And as a boozing, tormented writer, his life itself is a literary cliche.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Countvontrollio

Apr 29, 2015

this movie sux. 'Sux' from the latin as in don't warch it. Jeez it had 'Captain my captain in it' dont use that as a quote not in this lifetime.It plods along like the instutution it takes place in (school) where the inmates (viewers) are warching the clock tick down until quitting time.this movie sux. 'Sux' from the latin as in don't warch it. Jeez it had 'Captain my captain in it' dont use that as a quote not in this lifetime.It plods along like the instutution it takes place in (school) where the inmates (viewers) are warching the clock tick down until quitting time. numerous cringeworthy momnets of dialogue, script,acting. with quite possibly some of the lamest philosophical musings on words and art ever comited to film, and some of the masquearading as intellectual is embarrasingly pedestrian.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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