Words and Pictures: Good writing, good cast

Movie Review: Words and Pictures (2013) on HBO Max

I've forgotten what really good writing can do to drive a good film. Recently, I was reminded watching Words and Pictures.

The whole gist of this film is a washed up old writer turned English teacher (Clive Owen) and a struggling artist (Juliette Binoche) forced to teach fine arts at a prep school battle out which is more meaningful, words or pictures. Caught in the middle are their bright, impressionable high school students. The two teachers are at first caught up in their own misery and failure to achieve insights in their individual arts and fight it out in a battle of wits highlighted by the sexual tension between them and the devotion of their brightest students. But over time, they come to circle one another until they tangle in a competition in which their honors programs will decide on a supreme art: words or pictures, and the outcome may surprise you.

This is written with great wit and conversation around language arts, with quotes from the great authors of time--in essence, Words and Pictures becomes a piece of literary art in itself. 

At the same time, we see fine art explored visually as Binoche struggles to paint as the master painter her character is known to be yet struggles because of a disabling disease. We see her grasping brushes intricately small and industrially huge in painting masterpieces, yet not able to articulate her vision and anguishing over every stroke. Her studio is awash in art and anger. 

Meanwhile, required to write new manuscripts of prose and poetry, Owen can't muster the thoughts that once came so easily to him, now absorbed in debilitating alcoholism.

Both are spiraling out of control, before our eyes. And here they are, trying to guide students as they try to apply for college entrance!

So, what the writing does for the "words" part of the film, the staging, cinematography, and acting do for the "pictures" part of Words and Pictures, and it's a brilliant choreography. Binoche, a wonderfully natural actor, flows across the screen. Owen is hefty in most of his roles, and his passion in this role comes across with vigor and life.

Words and Pictures is a thinking film but also a feeling film. And I'd rate it A^ for Above Average on all Counts! Loved it.