By Dave Montalbano
http://cinemadave.livejournal.com
The modestly budgeted The Fault in Our Stars provided a wide return of investment compared to the much hyped, big budgeted Tom Cruise vehicle Edge of Tomorrow. Given the manic energy and huge production costs of Summer blockbusters like Godzilla, X-Me: Days of Future Past and The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Hollywood is examining “little” dramas like The Fault in Our Stars.
Words and Pictures opens tomorrow and this film qualifies as a “little” drama. The pace is deliberate, but not slow. The story features two strong protagonists who suffer from illness, but features some gorgeous cinematography. As a writer, I could not but feel that the “Words” people were given short shhrift compared to the “Picture” people. After all, the “Words” leader is personified by Professor Jack Marcus (Clive Owen – who looks like he is revisiting “Ernie” from his award-winning movie Hemingway & Gellhorn), while “Pictures” is represented by Professor Dina Delsanto (the lovely Juliette Binoche).
Professor Marcus is a scoundrel, but a charming one. Professor Delsanto is the Ice Queen with a warm heart. The two bicker and defend what is more important, “Words” or “Pictures?” A philosophical war is declared, with the outcome being decided by the student body of an Ivy League prep school.
The head games between Binoche and Owen are a delight to watch and listen to too. Being adults, the two strike each other like a fire poker, but know when to cool off in a moment of serious crisis. One sees both professors’ professionalism rise to the occasion when two students are involved with harassment charges.
Near the end, Words and Pictures suffers from a scene of over-the-top melodrama. However, the conclusion works and that is all that matters.
The best thing about this film is watching two artists overcome their own handicaps. While Clive Owen presents an easy vice – vodka and lime – Juliette Binoche’s character suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. Words and Pictures is a worthy alternative to over produced and over hyped Summer Blockbuster
