Words and Pictures (2013) User Reviews (76)

A smart, funny movie for grown-ups

[jvmcblcar · 8/10 · 3 June 2014]

So great to have a movie adults can enjoy amidst a summer of cartoon plots & characters; a movie you can actually take your family to without being bombarded by violence, sex and f-bombs. I loved it. Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche as artists each struggling with demons that have crippled (in Binoche's case, literally) their creative abilities, deliver wonderful performances, as does the entire cast. The well-paced script rolls along at just the right pace, while giving us moments of pause to feel each character's pain and root for their ultimate triumph.

You'd have to be pretty cynical to not like this movie. Could one pick it apart? As with any film, the answer is "sure." But why? Just go. Buy your popcorn and enjoy a really good-hearted film. The audience I saw it with (almost all over 40) was cheering at the end.

Far more intellectually stimulating than your average romantic comedy

[jason-47-508086 · 7/10 · 7 July 2014]

This is an honest movie that could be classified as a romantic comedy, but offers something more cerebral than that.

Through its main protagonist, the witty but self-destructive Jack (who plays tennis in his lounge room when drunk) we see a glimpse of the kind of inspirational teacher from Dead Poets Society recast in the information age where students can answer any question by referring to their electronic devices, while never understanding the worth of the question in the first place.

Don't let the love story fool you into thinking this is a chick flick. It's about appreciating the creation and expression of new ideas, neatly summed-up in the title: Words & Pictures.

This movie pleasantly surprised me with its clever dialogue and wordplay, despite the boy-meets-girl, etc storyline. Well worth a look.

Wonderful and Poignant, thank God for a middle-agers romance although teens will like it, too

[inkblot11 · 8/10 · 18 June 2014]

At a posh New England secondary school, with an ocean setting, English teacher Jack (Clive Owen) is in the midst of a middle age crisis. Only, he doesn't know it. Not yet. Others have observed that he drinks too much and is often a few minutes late to class, with poor lesson planning. To his credit, Jack is extremely dedicated and bright, making the most of his classes and connecting well with students. But, he is headed for trouble. That is, until a new art teacher, Dina (Juliette Binoche) arrives at the academy, cane in hand, for she suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. Needless to say, Jack rubs her the wrong way almost instantly, although it is quite clear that Dina can give tit for tat. After a discussion in her art honors class, students tell Jack that Dina thinks words are far less important and meaningful than pictures. Ho ho, Jack pounces on this pronto. Now, he tells his pupils, this is war and lays out a strong defense of the power of words by reading many meaningful passages of literature. An ultimate challenge of the two dueling forms of communication may lie ahead. In the meantime, Jack is told he is going to be "reviewed" by the board of directors and may be let go. He also is having difficulties with his college age son. Happily, Dina may be showing some romantic interest in Jack. What lies ahead in the battle of words and pictures? This wonderful and poignant movie is most welcome in this age of flicks aimed at young adult males. It offers a romance between middle aged characters and has an alluring, finely written script. Owen and Binoche are pitch perfect in their roles while the supporting cast of Bruce Davison, Amy Brenneman, and well-selected teenage actors are charming, too. The coastal setting is absolutely lovely while costumes, photography, and a worthy direction by Fred Schepisi bring terrific results. Please go support this movie, true-blue film fans. Unless you do, Hollywood won't offer this kind of movie very often.

A Romance with Something to Say

[mistercsays1 · 7/10 · 9 July 2014]

Yes, Words and Pictures includes many of the clichés that typically populate both romance films and movies in which the lead characters are teachers, however such clichés do not necessarily render a film ineffective if the broader context of the story allows us to look beyond the obvious and appreciate what else is going on. In that regard, veteran Australian director Fred Schepisi has done a really good job in crafting a film that has many easily identifiable genre conventions, yet still has plenty to say on all manner of subject matter, including art, language, technology and the purpose of education. With accomplished performers such as Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche in the lead roles, this is a film that defies its rom-com leanings and becomes something much more intelligent. The narrative trajectory of the characters is most definitely predictable, but because we already know what is going to happen on that front, we can focus on other elements of the story, including questions raised about the value of words and images and notions of what defines a good teacher.

Shot in Vancouver but set in a New England prep school, Words and Pictures is the story of two teachers with oppositional personalities and approaches to teaching who engage in a battle of wits that, inevitably, leads to romance. Binoche is new-teacher-in-town Dina Delsanto, an acclaimed artist battling rheumatoid arthritis, while Owen's Jack Marcus is the popular (with the students at least) English teacher with a drinking problem and a passion for language. Whilst the two present as polar opposites with regard to their teaching styles, they both have very high expectations of their students. Dina refuses to accept that a work of art being deemed " very good" by the masses is a satisfactory achievement and she demands that her students aim higher than that, particularly the talented Emily (Valerie Tian). Jack, meanwhile, is less interested in allocating formal grades than he is in inspiring students to use language in intelligent and creative ways to understand and appreciate the power and influence of words. The problem for Jack is that the school is losing patience with his unorthodox approach and his job is under threat; drunken run-ins around town doing little to curry favour with the school administration.

Of course, the school board are more interested in image and reputation than they are student outcomes, so Jack sets out to convince the powers-that-be of his "worth" to the school, a value that has little to do with his ability as a teacher and more to do with restoring his tarnished reputation as a writer of some repute. Needless to say, Jack finds himself drawn to the reclusive Dina, who is struggling to come to terms with the impact her illness is having on her ability to paint. Whilst the two central characters are typical of all screen teachers – from Gabe Kotter to Erin Gruwell – in that they apparently only have one class, there is some honesty in the way they and the other teachers (which include Bruce Davison as Walt, Jack's only ally) are presented. The film explores what constitutes a good teacher: Does it matter if Jack is an alcoholic? Is being a nice person a requirement for being a good teacher? Does being a popular teacher make you any more, or less, effective in the classroom? Words and Pictures also serves as a celebration of both the visual and language arts and explores the influence of technology on young people, with Jack's witty and impassioned rants bemoaning social media proving particularly amusing.

Owen embodies Jack as a blowhard fighting a losing battle against both the system and his own self-loathing, while Dina has little desire to ingratiate herself with her students or other faculty members. The chemistry between Owen and Binoche is terrific and, despite the somewhat cantankerous personalities of their characters, these are two teachers that any school would be lucky to have. With several subplots thrown into the mix, such as Jack's strained relationship with his son Tony (Christian Scheider, son of Roy, in his screen debut) and the cruel harassment directed at Emily by a boorish male student, there is enough going on to make Words and Pictures a cut above the warm and fuzzy fluff that saturates so many romance narratives. Yes, of course it ends pretty much how we expect, but with good performances and characters that are multi-layered, Schepisi has managed to create a genre piece that, unlike so many others, is both entertaining and intelligent.

Words and Pictures is a good movie

[lashawndaw-13-719227 · 7/10 · 28 May 2014]

I almost opted out of seeing Words and Pictures but I'm very happy that I saw it. The movie is about a high school English teacher who was once an acclaimed publisher but lost his creativity because he thinks it's not appreciated by his students and drowns his sorrows in alcohol. He is played by Clive Owen who performed brilliantly. He intersects with a new world renowned Art teacher played by Juliette Binoche who is struggling to maintain her ability to create due to a debilitating medical condition which physically prevented her from painting with fine strokes. Juliette Binoche transforms amazingly and performs well. I didn't even recognize her as the actress that played Vianne in Chocolat which I loved her in and Hana the nurse in The English Patient. In their dual over their passions of words and pictures, they end up challenging each other and their students and movie goers alike to appreciate and desire to create beauty using words and art. After watching Belle and a slew of other movies set around Victorian Era England, I noted that our conversational language has become so simple when there are so many beautiful words available to us. This movie echoes that sentiment. I expected Words and Pictures to be an overly artsy romantic love story but it was balanced. There are two things I didn't like about this movie. The first is that we aren't given the back story of the main characters. The characters even acknowledge they don't know a lot about each other but they are satisfied with it and I guess movie goers were supposed to be OK with it as well. The second is that besides reciting other people's words, Clive Owen's character doesn't say much of his own words that conveys his whole premise about words. I kept waiting for this great prose from him, but never got it. Overall the movie is entertaining and inspiring and I recommend you go see it.

A mediocre film enlivened by fascinating characters and great performances.

[shawneofthedead · 6/10 · 12 June 2014]

It's a rare film that manages to be tedious and fascinating at the same time, but that's precisely what happens with the clumsily-named and executed Words And Pictures. The film's central conceit is right there in its title: a battle for supremacy unfolds between an English teacher (words) and his new colleague, who schools students in the fine arts (pictures). It shouldn't work at all, especially when the relationship moves predictably into romantic territory. But it's tough to completely dismiss the film when its awkward screenplay also features two intriguing central characters, played with subtle, almost miraculous depth by Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche.

English teacher Jack Marcus (Owen) is on the brink of academic implosion: his job is on the line, he's barely making it to his classes on time, and he's drinking a little too much for anyone's comfort. But, just as things are looking really bleak, his downward trajectory is briefly interrupted by the arrival of Dina Delsanto (Binoche), a revered artist who's losing her ability to make art as her body is increasingly ravaged by the aches and pains of rheumatoid arthritis. She values imagery and art; he treasures words and literature - their clash fires up their students' imaginations, even as they bicker and spar their way into an evident mutual attraction.

There's no denying that the film rests on an awkward foundation: the script keeps returning to the ridiculous dichotomy it establishes between words and pictures, pitting Marcus against Delsanto in a competition that makes very little sense. It's all tied up with a subplot involving shy arts student Emily (Valerie Tian), whose ability to come out of her shell to be the artist she can be is all wrapped up with issues of sexual harassment and public humiliation. Frankly, it's just not very good.

What is very good about the film is its two central characters, and the spiky, difficult and joyfully equal relationship that springs up between them. There's so much depth, sadness and maturity layered into Marcus and Delsanto that it's absolutely fascinating just to watch them in action, together and apart. Both characters have rough edges that aren't sanded away, and the odd fireworks between them work precisely because both their lives have stalled: Marcus is a charming mess who lost himself somewhere along the way; Delsanto is a brilliant artist who can no longer express herself the way she wants to. Somehow, they wind up inspiring each other to do better and be better - and, instead of feeling horribly mawkish, it works.

That's due in no small part to the excellent work done by the two lead actors. Owen sinks thoroughly into the part of Marcus, dialling up the charm and the horror of his character in equal measure. The film doesn't soften or romanticise Marcus and his problems, which gives Owen plenty of great character stuff to do. Binoche, too, has ample room to uncover the sad, yearning soul of a whip-smart, independent woman whose illness has stolen not just her art but also a little of her dignity.

Ultimately, the fantastic and fascinating interplay between the two actors and characters are pretty much worth the price of admission. They're surrounded by an odd, awkward beast of a movie, built on a very shaky foundation. But their brave, deep performances and bittersweet chemistry come very close to making Words And Pictures worth a lot more than it really is.

A clash that involves passion and intellect

[cekadah · 7/10 · 6 September 2014]

A very entertaining movie but a rather simple and predictable story! Director Fred Schepisi and writer Gerald Di Pego have included - and very cleverly so - two conflicting characters that come to cross purposes and these same two characters must deal not only with the other but also with their personal internal demons.

Here is a story about a clash that involves passion and intellect. Clive Owen as Jack Marcus 'English teacher' is very passionate about the written word and it's effect on the human mind and soul. Juliette Binoche as Dina Delsanto 'Art teacher' is equally passionate about the fine arts and it's effect on the human mind and soul. And so an unofficial challenge develops between these two teachers - which has the greater influence on people - 'words or pictures'. Both teachers compete to be the winner but both teachers must overcome their internal conflicts at the same time. Jack is an alcoholic and Dina suffers advanced rheumatoid arthritis. The fight is on both externally, with the help of the students, and the fight within themselves which accentuates the teachers individual aloneness in this world.

In my opinion Director Schepisi blew his chance to make a truly profound story by not expanding on the one pivotal moment in the story. That moment is when Jack falls onto the still wet painting Dina considered her greatest work! Here is the moment where words and pictures become one! No one can describe a picture and it's effect without words and words can only be comprehended by seeing in ones mind pictures which has an effect on the soul.

Instead the director turns the story into a therapy session for a rather insecure girl and Jack finally deciding to seek help for his alcohol addiction. In the end all is sunshine and springtime which ruined the movie for me. Had Dina been a more insightful artist she would have taken advantage of the 'damage' to her painting by working with it. And Jack would have written a poem or something about the how damaging ourselves also damages others around us. Thus words and pictures are but one.

Authentically Human Filmmaking

[Gabe-29 · 9/10 · 3 June 2014]

There's great magic in Words and Pictures. And that magic comes from the sheer joy of watching a real human story so eloquently played out before our eyes. In a time when we are bombarded by CGI laden, tent pole films crafted by marketing firms rather than great storytellers, it is refreshing to find a summer film that focuses on character and the human condition. I loved this film and the emotional journey it takes us on. Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche are both at the top of their game in this film, giving us layered performances that are humorous, touching and yes… I'll use the word again… human. The greatest strength of this film is it's screenplay with it's honest look at relationships. The relationship between words and pictures becomes the vehicle by which we dive into all the emotional relationships. These are flawed and delicate characters making their way through the minefield of life. Fathers and sons, lovers, coworkers, mentors and mentees. All of the relationships play out so beautifully and honestly on screen. From our wonderful leads to even the smallest of supporting characters, not an emotive moment is wasted. Thank God there are films where great writing is still revered and producers, directors and actors who take a chance with those words and bring them to the screen in glorious moving pictures. Don't miss this one!

Picture me a word

[Galina_movie_fan · 7/10 · 20 August 2019]

The movie had more potential that it actually used but for the presentation of the arguments for words and for pictures alone it deserves respect and interest. It is nice to see a film that actually cares about art, its different forms, faces and shapes, and, at least, tries to engage the viewer in the subject. Yes, the theme of the "wonder-boys" on the crossroads that hit the dry spell and can't get themselves out of the writers' block has been done much better in the well.. "Wonder boys". Yes, the tormented artist struggling to overcome physical disability is also familiar subject and no one ever will be able to over-shine D.D.Lewis in 'My Left Foot". So, what? This movie, even if it comes in the end to the rom-com territory, still raises the interesting questions beyond the rom-com genre and leaves pleasant enough impression and afterthought. Kudos to the Brit, Clive Owens and to the French, Juliette Binoche for being so natural as the intelligent Americans dedicated their lives to the art of words and images.

I saw it...

[Kirpianuscus · 15 October 2022]

I saw it for Juliette Binoche. And, indeed, she remains, scene by scene, the good motif for see ( and love ) this film.

I saw it as teacher, recognizing situations, gestures, mistakes.

I hated the too pink end and I perceived the romance between Dina and Jack as too, too forced, to the border of fake.

I loved, very much, the paintings of Juliette Binoche. And the young actors, giving fair portraits of students.

I saw the duel between words and pictures as decent crafted but not real convincing more than as a didactic method for seduce students and create some romance.

In short, a beautiful film in its essence.

And the point was...?

[Davalon-Davalon · 2/10 · 23 October 2014]

I love Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche, so it was with great disappointment that I saw this imitation of someone's idea of a movie run on endlessly without merit, point, purpose, reason or destination.

I'm not quite sure where to start. The concept? Why would anyone get involved over the merits of words versus pictures? Something that is written, something that is painted... they are their own unique art forms. Why would anyone, especially someone as smart as Juliette Binoche, in real life, and as her character Dina Delsanto, engage in the bizarre tit-for-tat war manufactured by Clive Owen's Jack Marcus? She wouldn't. And more importantly, as this imitation movie unfolds, Clive's character, an in-denial raging alcoholic/blocked writer, harasses her and, more disturbingly, stalks her. Any woman in her right mind would have this irritant fired from the school and arrested. But no, she ends up allowing him to seduce her. Her apparent excuse is that she has rheumatoid arthritis and she doesn't know if each time she has sex will be the last time. So, in a way, she only did it for the pleasure of having sex, which I can't fault her for, but why with such a painfully obvious loser?

The film tosses us to and from between the worlds of Jack, an honors English teacher and Dina, an honors art teacher. Jack is obviously enamored of every word he says and thinks he's a great teacher, but he can't show up on time and he is so behind on grading papers that one of his students intelligently challenges him when he asks the class to do an assignment, pointing out that she needs to take his honors English class in order to get into university, and yet he hasn't bothered to grade the last three assignments. To this Jack barks at her do another assignment. Huh? On what basis? I'd complain to the principal and Jack would be either shamed into providing the grades, reprimanded, or dismissed.

Dina, on the other hand, comes to the school with a chip on her shoulder as she struggles with rheumatoid arthritis. She's called "Ms. Icicle" -- and Juliette obviously put in time researching her role as someone struggling with a physical disability. I liked her because I felt she was real. Jack, on the other hand, was so repulsive that I didn't care if he walked into oncoming traffic.

Also, the film tries to weave into two "B' stories, only one of which might be helpful. Jack has a young son who is apparently a runner or cyclist, based on his choice of attire. The fact that he is also a writer (or was) gets short shrift... but that piece of information will come back to haunt all who watch this questionable endeavor. The son, bright and sober, attempts to engage Jack in conversation and to set up a time for Jack to meet the son's girlfriend. But Jack is too interested in feeling sorry for himself, drinking, smashing things in his house, and harassing people with stupid word games in which he challenges people to keep expanding on the number of syllables in a word. Again... the point?

The other "B" story involves "Emily," played by Valerie Tian. Valerie has a very pretty, open, honest face. She doesn't seem to have a lot of expressions, but she has potential to be a good, if not a great, actress. In this film she plays a student who is unmercifully stalked by a fellow classmate who is madly in love with her. She doesn't share his feelings. He apparently draws an unflattering picture of her (which was impossible to make out, so I could not determine what the hysterical hubbub was about) which he posts on the Internet. Emily eventually turns to Dina for support, and Dina gives it to her in the only way she knows how: bluntly, cruelly and honestly. Okay, all that's great, but this is ANOTHER movie. This "B" story is woven throughout almost the entire film, wears thin quickly and does not in anyway enhance the main story.

As we draw towards it's trumpeted and obvious conclusion, all I could think was "Jack Marcus" was a delusional alcoholic stalker who might have had a gift for writing at one time (this last point is debated endlessly throughout the film), but... so what? So what that he had a gift? So what that his wife left him? The school board overlooks so much of his behavior that it is really a slap in the face to anyone intelligent.

The movie goes on way too long, and during the entire time I didn't feel a single emotion for anyone, although I initially could feel the depth of Juliette's character because of her extensive acting gifts.

But since I felt the initial premise was essentially a bad joke, and since Clive's character was so mean, delusional, cruel and selfish, I could not find a single reason to invest in anybody in this film.

There were times that I was distinctly aware of the camera, of the camera angles, of all the work involved in making this a film... and yet... where was the magic? I should have been transported; instead I kept being yanked from the Jack train to the Dina train to the Emily train. I was so black and blue after two hours that I had to put the movie out of my mind for two days before I could comment on it.

Overall a questionable endeavor that wastes a lot of time and talent and resources and doesn't present an argument worth addressing.

Speak to Me of Art

[jadepietro · 8/10 · 18 June 2014]

This film is recommended.

There have been many philosophical arguments about the power of words and images. If one picture is worth a thousand words, and actions speak louder than words, who are we to disagree? In the battle of the sexes, the latest independent film, Words and Pictures, takes on this dispute in telling its love story about an English professor and an artist, both of whom have conflicting viewpoints on the subject and their budding courtship.

Jack (Clive Owen) is an alcoholic academic who values the sacred text above all else. As fate would have it, he meets Dina (Juliette Binoche), an art teacher and painter whose rheumatoid arthritis is beginning to cripple her creative output. Both teach at an exclusive prep school. He teaches English, she teaches art, and it is their volatile relationship that is at the heart of this romantic film. One has lost that creative spark to alcohol, the other literally coming to grips with her own physical limitations. Each questions their own value and importance in a rivalry set between the schools based on the theoretical debate of words vs. pictures.

Of course, they will fall in love. It's inevitable, isn't it? Predictable. Formulaic. Conventional. Clichéd. Those are some words that come to mind. Entertaining. Diverting. Enjoyable. Thought provoking. Those are some more words that succinctly describe Words and Pictures.  Fred Schepsi solidly directs the film and has wisely cast the central roles with actors who have enough presence and talent to make these characters more credible on the screen than from the written page. The preachy screenplay by Gerald Di Pego takes this interesting premise and expounds their differences ad nauseum. When the script stays true to the intellectual discourse, the film resonates. Unfortunately, it also adds some needless sub plots that go nowhere and just fill time. Some actors like Bruce Davidson and Amy Brenneman aren't given much to do and are wasted in minor roles.

But the film eventually works solely due to the chemistry of Binoche and Owens. Owen's Jack has a disheveled charm and sexiness that makes him worthy of Dina's attention. His bouts with alcohol have a chilling realism and, a speech delivered to the end of the film to his estranged son is quite moving. Binoche has a wry and expressive persona that makes her character a noble and caring rival. Her talents not only as an actress but also as an abstract painter are showcased successfully throughout the film. These actors supply the sweetness and passion that is somehow lacking in the film's creaky plot and soap opera dynamics.

At times, Words and Pictures tends to hyperventilate on its own words and storytelling. But one can readily accept this factor as the film tackles bigger issues and offers intellectual nourishment that mostly other films avoid. The film effectively emphasizes the importance of art and literature to us mere mortals. However it ultimately raises another philosophical question: Does music eclipse both as a more direct means of expression? Talk amongst yourselves, but go first see Words and Pictures as a hearty appetizer. GRADE: B

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It's hard to have a romance when one person is completely despicable and really, really screwed up.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 27 September 2015]

If you are looking for a romance, you might want to skip "Words and Music". The romance portion of the film is very abortive and not at all satisfying if that is what you have in mind. However, if you watch the film simply to watch fine acting, then you'll be very impressed. As for the story, with a slight reworking, it would have been wonderful. As it is, it's decent but no more.

The film is set at a fancy prep school in Maine. The story is about two teachers. One is a 'cool' English teacher, Jack (Clive Owen), and the other a brand new teacher--an art teacher named Dina (Juliet Binoche). At first, the audience likes Jack--he seems very clever and funny. And, in contrast, Dina is angry and difficult to like. However, through the course of the film as you learn more about them, your opinion will change. Jack is a drunk--and he's also full of crap. It's actually very difficult to like him or even care about him, handsome as he is. As for Dina, you realize that a lot of her grouchiness is the result of her having to give up her beloved art career, as she's become disabled due to severe rheumatoid arthritis. She is decent down deep and despite her thorny veneer, you tend to like her. The problem, then, with what romance there is in the film is that you know Dina can do so much better and you really DON'T want her with Jack. So how does all this work itself out? See the movie.

The best thing about the movie is the acting. Clive Owen is simply amazing. He gets you to hate him--which is great. But he also shows vulnerability and emotion that make his performance riveting. He also manages to somehow outshine Binoche--which is amazing considering she's a fine actress herself.

As for the story it's a lot of good and a little bad. I loved some of the other characters and subplots (such as the sexual harassment situation) and the story was so unique. However, on the negative side, the alcoholism aspect is REALLY rushed and Jack goes from a jerk in denial to a guy in touch with his need for AA too quickly. Additionally, the film goes through this aspect to his making peace with Dina way too fast--much more time should have transpired to make the viewer realize his sudden transformation is NOT just some passing fad. Still, on balance, the good far outweighs the bad...even though it is NOT really a romance and should not be seen as one going into the film. If you do expect this, you'll likely be disappointed.

Not a Romance, But an Interesting Movie

[docm-32304 · 5/10 · 7 January 2022]

I found it a real change from the other Clive Owens movies I've seen and the acting is spot on. The story is uncomfortable in many places, but as edgy as reality. That doesn't make for great entertainment, but as a drama, this one is so so. The concept however of a battle/debate between words and pictures is what made this film interesting and I would have liked that as the strong story instead of all the drama around it.

A film with many positive messages

[Gordon-11 · 6 November 2014]

This film tells the story of an alcoholic English teacher in a high school, who stirs up rivalry with a new arts teacher to inspire him and drag him out of a his life's mess.

The war between words and pictures is very interesting to watch, as it's intellectual and unlike the usual bickering rivalry. The additional fun comes from the students who are caught in the middle, and the by product is that the students are inspired to work harder as well. It's such a sweet romantic comedy with many positive messages. And life doesn't end for those who has long term illness! It gives hope to common people, and I like that message a lot.

More words then pictures.

[Quietb-1 · 7/10 · 14 June 2014]

Here's a nice little romantic drama. Clive Owen teaches English, but his character has a major flaw. Juliette Binoche teaches Art, but her character has a major condition. Will they overcome all and get together? Don't you think.

The movie is a bit long and somewhat oversimplified. If certain addictions were that easy to shake more people would do it.

The ultimate battle between which is more important words or pictures is answered by the fact that this is a motion picture and not a book.

The acting is convincing. Juliette Binoche wins the acting battle. It is noteworthy she is given credit for the paintings in the movie.

A light score and good locations add to the enjoyment. If your looking for a small oasis from big budget explosions this little movie works. It has limited release and doesn't need to be seen in a theater as it will play well at home.

Great story with a rough finish.

[Stewball · 7/10 · 10 April 2014]

Starts off with a great premise and excellent dialogue throughout, but the story falters 2/3rds of the way through with the art vs. words contention going completely one sided given the exemplars. The tête-à-tête between Owen, Binoche, and to a degree, their students, was the centerpiece of the film. But the alcoholism was a distraction and not necessary to the story. I was amazed at what they were holding up as "fine" art. Her creations were executed with brushes of ever increasing sizes until she was using a mop suspended from the ceiling. The masterpiece (?) and the two panels at the end were the most recent examples of an emperor having no clothes. 7/10

The last half-hour makes it worth watching

[birck · 6/10 · 22 June 2014]

For most of the 1 1/2 hours of this film I couldn't stand it. Then the story starts concentrating on the two main characters and it becomes worthwhile. By now you get the general picture-two teachers in a New England prep school (Located somewhere in British Columbia) find it worthwhile to set up a school-wide competition between spoken word and visual art, and that tension sparks a surge of creativity in the school and a relationship between the two teachers. Unfortunately, even with two good actors in the lead roles, things don't really start to happen until the film is about 2/3 over, when the art teacher. played by Juliette Binoche, reveals a new painting, an abstract, that blows away the competition. But getting to that point requires a slog through overstated, unbelievable interactions between teacher and student and student-student. Example: the best art student, an Asian-American girl, is constantly hassled by a privileged, tone-deaf young man who makes a complete ass of himself essentially stalking her on campus every day, and at the top of his lungs. The young woman is shy and lacks self-confidence, but skilled enough to draw the attention of the art teacher. Her tormentor is obnoxious enough to be spotted from a police helicopter, and yet never seems to come to the attention of the faculty or administration until he does something truly unforgivable. By the same token, the Asian-American artist, supposedly shy and un-self-confident, is quite able to tell him off loudly and in public more than once during the film. The unconvincing subplots kept the whole film at arm's length for me until the two main characters started to click.

What I expect from a comedy romantic

[Mahyar-Masoumi · 7/10 · 13 June 2020]

Words and Pictures is a really classic comdey romantic. But doing it's job. tellng us a story that worth it. at the end of the movie you don't feel stupidity and boredom. Actors are good and examples of literature are correct choices.of course many things could be better,but final result is acceptable.

This movie has the type of educational influence along the lines of Dead Poet's Society or Mr. Holland's Opus. I loved It.

[cosmo_tiger · 9/10 · 7 September 2014]

"A picture is worth a thousand words." Jack Marcus (Owen) is an English teacher that has a slight alcohol problem and is in danger of losing his job. The school hires Dina Delsanto (Binoche) a famous artist that has her own struggles she is dealing with to teach art. What starts off as a harmless comment about words being lies soon becomes a war between words and pictures. The teachers drag their students into the battle which end up helping everyone involved. This is a perfect example of don't judge a book (or in this case movie) by its cover. Going in I was expecting a cheesy romantic comedy that has been done over and over. While this did have the romance aspect this dealt much more with education. Clive Owen plays a teacher that the kids love but the administration hates. He does things his own way and actually gets through to the kids. Binoche's character is angry at having to teach but still makes a connection with the students. The movie is a back and forth argument over which has more power words or pictures with great arguments for both sides. This movie has the type of educational influence that movies along the lines of Dead Poet's Society or Mr. Holland's Opus has. This is a huge surprise of a movie that I just can not say enough about. One of the better movies of the year and I highly recommend this. Overall, if you like inspirational movies about education then check this out. I loved it. I give this an A-.

Strong performances, interesting first half ..

[samabc-31952 · 6/10 · 16 October 2020]

The romance did not appeal me and the second half of the movie is not only predictable but quite weak and a cliche .. however, strong performances by the protagonists - Juliette Binoche and Clive Owen come to rescue and help the movie 'kind of' earns 3 stars what otherwise would be 2.. An interesting plot in first half - two honor classes' teachers collide and that triggers a war between words and pictures at a private high school ..

Top notch acting, cool art and witty quotes.

[felixtekat · 5/10 · 20 February 2022]

Think4Yourself thinks... (5 stars) The battle between words and pictures was entertaining and unique, and would have been plenty. I don't think the subplots of romance and alcoholism needed to be added to an otherwise fine movie. The acting was top-notch. Lots of cool art and witty quotes.

Poet meets painter, poet loses painter . . .

[Red-125 · 8/10 · 27 June 2014]

Words and Pictures (2013) was directed by Fred Schepisi. It stars Juliette Binoche as Dina Delsanto, a brilliant painter who is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Clive Owen portrays Jack Marcus, a published poet who is suffering from alcoholism. Of course they meet, engage in intellectual battles, are attracted to each, and have a horrendous rending of their relationship.

All of this action takes place at a private school in New England, with subplots involving cyber bullying, the real possibility of Jack being fired from his job, Jack's relationship with his son, and both teachers' interactions with their students.

The film is predictable and formulaic, but it still worked for me because of the brilliant acting of Juliette Binoche. We've seen painters at work in other films, but in this movie, there's a real artist at work. (Binoche is, herself, an artist, and the art she's making in the film is her own art.) Most important to me is that we get to see the serious effects of rheumatoid arthritis on someone's life. Most sick people are portrayed in movies as either at death's door, or just mildly impaired. (If they have rheumatoid arthritis, they use a cane and limp a little.) Not so in this film--Binoche has a serious handicapping condition, and it's interfering with her life and her art.

This movie will work better on the large screen, mainly because the art will be more impressive if seen in a theater. Even so, it will work well enough on the small screen. It's worth seeing, Not a great film, but an intelligent and enjoyable one.

Juliette and Clive are both wasted.

[paulcreeden · 6/10 · 3 July 2015]

I find it hard to rate a picture with Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche as mediocre, but I have to. I watched this through because they are two of my favorite actors. I have followed their careers with enthusiasm from their early days.

This movie is a sappy hybrid of a romantic comedy in the vein of Noel Coward and an inspirational story for adolescents along the lines of "Dead Poets Society". Setting it in Maine made it seem even more implausible and awkward. Clive Owen does a good American accent, but I think he is less powerful without his normal voice. Juliette Binoche held up her end better, but the role wasn't really suited to her talent.

The teenagers were very teenager-like. Hammy and overly emotional. Adding veterans like Bruce Davison and Amy Brenneman didn't really help much, since their parts were very superficial. Christian Scheider stood out in the role of Owen's son, reacting to his father's alcoholism.

Alcoholism was showcased excessively. Sobriety was a terse footnote. The chronic disease of Binoche's character was portrayed as just a drag, something that just got in the way, as opposed to a challenge leading to ascendancy. This would have made sense in a movie that wasn't trying to be a romantic comedy at times. Overall, the film was a disappointment.

A great premise flawed once again

[bigmystery23 · 5/10 · 4 May 2014]

Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche are excellent actors, even when given clichéd and mundane scripts, such as this one. "Words and Pictures" begins with an interesting concept, what speaks better: words or pictures? Clive Owen plays an English honors teacher who, in his private life, struggles with alcohol and a relationship with his son. Juliette Binoche plays a well renounced artist battling a disease that makes it hard for her to use certain techniques when painting and has landed herself as an Arts honor teacher. The chemistry between the two is pretty believable. And there are moments when the two show off their fine acting skills, because quite frankly they are what lead the story. Director Fred Schepisi lacks the talent he had when directing romantic comedies such as "Roxanne," and Gerald Di Pego once again shows that he has yet to improve on his writing. What starts out as a great premise ultimately gets muddled by unnecessary aspects. The acting of the students is honestly very corny. The audience has no sympathy for them what so ever. Though the audience gets a few laughs in, the story is just not thought out well enough to achieve what it wants.