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.