The Words
Seen it?2012 | 102 min | Drama, Thriller
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With just 24% on Rotten Tomatoes, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 42 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
- Critics were cooler on it than audiences.
The Words follows young writer Rory Jansen who finally achieves long sought after literary success after publishing the next great American novel. There's only one catch - he didn't write it. As the past comes back to haunt him and his literary star continues to rise, Jansen is forced to confront the steep price that must be paid for stealing another man's work, and for placing ambition and success above life's most fundamental three words.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsWeak
24% on Rotten Tomatoes, 37 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.7 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$16 million worldwide on a $6 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 159K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Brian Klugman, Lee Sternthal
- Bradley CooperRory Jansen
- Zoe SaldañaDora Jansen
- Jeremy IronsThe Old Man
- Dennis QuaidClay Hammond
- Olivia WildeDanielle
- J.K. SimmonsMr. Jansen
- John HannahRichard Ford
- Željko IvanekJoseph Cutler
- Ben BarnesYoung Man
- Michael McKeanNelson Wylie