Maryville Pawprint Maryville Pawprint, Maryville University's Student Newspaper
Have you ever been tempted to plagiarize someone’s work and take credit?
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In the movie “The Words” two men’s lives are interconnected and impacted by the same novel. This movie was written and directed by Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal. Movie cast members, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Dennis Quaid and Jeremy Irons, depict a series of life choices and consequences.
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“The Words” conveys how the work of one man’s life consequently ends up in the hands of another writer. In a twist of fate, an unpublished novel is discovered. One author is so desperate for a break since he might have to give up his literary career because the support is dwindling from his family. This author struggles but ultimately chooses to plagiarize the novel as his own. However, the decision has consequences and he is soon approached by the original author. The original author reveals the emotional events that led and motivated him to write the novel. The confrontation leads to intense moments and has the credited author questioning his decision.
The newly-paired directors did a great job of drawing in the audience. “The Words” shows that choices make an impact on the people that you love, and sometimes the consequences can alter one’s life. The movie is rated PG-13; however, “The Words” brings passion and desire to the big screen throughout the movie. At times, I thought it was a little overkill in terms of how the directors magnified the love and desire. As I was exiting the movie theater, I did hear a male movie-goer commenting that it was a bit of a “chick flick.”
Although reviews for this movie have been mixed; I enjoyed the movie plot and I thought it was portrayed in a fascinating way, and I would recommend the movie. I believe the directors try to compel the audience to think intensely about our decisions and consequences. The directors mastered the way to reveal each author’s aspiration and emotions through this intertwined movie plot. In my opinion, an older person may be more able to relate to the life lessons in this movie.
Maya Angelou once said, “Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.” Understanding the deeper meaning of words is exactly what transpires in the movie “The Words.”
