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THE WORDS

"To Fiction or Non-Fiction"

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What You Need To Know:

THE WORDS is about two writers, an aspiring one and a successful one. The aspiring writer is forced to take a real job after marrying his girlfriend. He stumbles across the lost work of a real artist. He passes the work off as his own, but then runs into the real writer, a dying much older man. Wracked by guilt, the aspiring writer listens as the old man tells how he lost his manuscript. Meanwhile, a young intern questions the originality of a successful novelist. Both men must confront their insecurities. They are also faced with a choice of whether to choose truth or fiction.

THE WORDS has some structural problems. Also, the worldview is mixed, varying between morality and materialism. Nonetheless, the movie presents an insightful story within a story within a story. In fact, THE WORDS is very enjoyable to watch, with wonderful performances throughout. Even better, the objectionable content is kept to a minimum. So, MOVIEGUIDE® only advises a caution for children for THE WORDS.

Content:

(Pa, B, H, LL, V, S, N, A, D, M) Mixed worldview varying between moral and humanist elements with one passing reference to a historical pantheon of “the gods,” with a very loving portrayal of a father/son relationship; five obscenities and five profanities; very mild violence such as wife slaps husband in the face; no sex scenes but depiction of man and woman living together before marriage lying in bed together covered, married man kisses an intern but rescinds it, and one scene of married couple passionately kissing; upper male nudity; alcohol use; smoking; and, man plagiarizes book but later confesses his lying.

More Detail:

THE WORDS is about a struggling, aspiring writer, facing “getting a real job,” who stumbles across the lost work of a real artist. Simultaneously, the writer is confronted with his greatest temptation and greatest insecurities.

THE WORDS is a truly intriguing story crossing back and forth from the world of fiction to non-fiction.

Successful novelist Clay Hammond (Dennis Quaid) reads his latest work to an auditorium filled with fans. Following the public reading, Clay entertains a gorgeous intern.

Meanwhile, Rory Jansen has spent the last two years writing his two novels, trying to become a great writer. At the end of his rope, Rory is forced again to borrow money from his loving father. Simultaneously, he’s forced to confront the distinct possibility hat he may never be the great writer he dreamt himself to be.

Reluctantly following his father’s advice, he gets a 9 to 5 job doing grunt work in a publishing house. Then, he marries his girlfriend. However, the challenge of “settling down” is still elusive.

On their Paris honeymoon, Rory purchases an old briefcase for his new job. Post honeymoon, Rory stumbles across a manuscript hidden in a flap of the briefcase. Like a genie out of a bottle, Rory comes face to face with a true work of art. He types the work into his laptop, ostensibly to “feel the words” as though they were coming from him. The entire manuscript copied, his wife stumbles across it and reads it. Thinking the writing is his, she immediately calls it the most “honest” work he’s done. Thus, a momentary misunderstanding becomes an invitation to plagiarism.

Rory goes ahead and publishes the work, becoming famous. Then, however, he accidentally runs into the actual writer, an old man who tells Rory how he lost the manuscript.

As Rory tries to deal with his guilt, the young intern bluntly asks Clay whether he also plagiarized his own novel. Like Rory, Clay must confront his own insecurities. Also, both men are faced with a choice of whether to choose truth or fiction.

THE WORDS has some structural problems. Also, the worldview is mixed, varying between morality and materialism. Nonetheless, the movie presents an insightful story within a story within a story. In fact, THE WORDS is very enjoyable to watch, with wonderful performances throughout. Even better, the movie’s objectionable content is kept to a minimum. So, MOVIEGUIDE® only advises a caution for children.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.