TrueHello Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Tom Watkins What is the meaning of a movie that displays a very talented English teacher and writer as an alcoholic who is obnoxious, unlikeable, and totally wasting his life / talent away because he is addicted to alcohol. Why not just watch someone puking his guts (life) out for 90 minutes. Very sad if this is what interests you. What is the point ? Lots of very poor character traits shown in the students, and spineless administration that lets the kids get away with this. Yes, the movie portrays reality, but not the healthy side. Look for something else to do with your time. Suggestions: Radio, Listen to your Heart, Unconditional, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Ring the Bell, and The Mighty, to name a few. All display healthy reality shows of characters that have handicaps, but overcome them with strength, determination, humor, and honesty. Support traits that make society better, not those that bring people down to the gutter.

secondtake Words and Pictures (2013)If you, like me, missed the fact this movie existed at all, despite having two great actors (two of my favorites), then give this a read, and a look. This is a terrific movie. It's funny, bright, and touching. It does veer into a bit of a cliché about high school life and romance, but manages to keep it real, or if not quite "real" at least pungent. Worthy.Yeah, a surprise excellent warm flick. See it.Clive Owen is at first the lead, a crackling spitfire of an English teacher, the kind we all want. Informed, challenging, funny. In this elite high school he fits in well. Except with other teachers who find him abrasive and cocky.Juliette Binoche is the other lead, and she takes on increasing importance teaching art, and being an artist. Her unusual (uncanny) ability to be stern, sad, tormented and also happy to the point of sincere joy and laughter is amazing. She is given less to work with than Owen (Owen's character has a son and the threat of losing his job while Binoche's character just teaches art exceedingly well) but she makes her presence as important and stunning.The two would seem fated to fall in love and such and such, but you'll have to see about that. In fact, they have amazing chemistry as colleagues and then friends on screen, but not romantically. The title refers to a kind of playful battle in the school between word and images. The students get energized, the two teachers take sides. It's fun, but in a way it's all a sideshow to Owen and Binoche in their personal issues and growth and failure. It's hard to make clear that this is a movie about two people who happen to be teachers, and it's about how they come to terms with their different issues: Owen the alcoholic and Binoche suffering with severe arthritis. The writing crackles, the acting is on fire, and the plot goes along for the ride. A joyous surprise.

Gordon-11 This film tells the story of an alcoholic English teacher in a high school, who stirs up rivalry with a new arts teacher to inspire him and drag him out of a his life's mess.The war between words and pictures is very interesting to watch, as it's intellectual and unlike the usual bickering rivalry. The additional fun comes from the students who are caught in the middle, and the by product is that the students are inspired to work harder as well. It's such a sweet romantic comedy with many positive messages. And life doesn't end for those who has long term illness! It gives hope to common people, and I like that message a lot.

Paul Tremblay Good news first: the idea and premise for the movie are great: the dichotomy of words and pictures. Fine arts battling against literary arts, which will come on top? Oftentimes in the movie one character or another declares the emotional objectives of art, the aim to making us breathless. So... for a story so imbued with the underlying idea of the overwhelming quality of art, it strangely and ironically falls flat. Why? Hard to tell. One of the reasons, from a scientific point of view is the chemistry between Binoche and Owens, chemistry as explosive as a glass of stale water left in the teachers lounge too long. The budding romance between the two teachers is as mysterious (coming from nowhere) as it is puzzling and pointless. I am still trying to figure out the weird business between Emily and her bullies, really a lost episode without much emotional connections to the rest of the narrative (besides the obvious "image" and "words" that Emily and her nemesis use). Very disappointing film. I heard many senior citizens loved the movie. Can't account for taste.