A struggling author, penniless and wrestling with writer’s block? Sounds like the autobiography of Internet bloggers everywhere (except very few of us look like Bradley Cooper, and have girlfriends who look like Zoe Saldana). Instead, it’s the premise behind The Words, Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal’s co-directorial effort about literary accomplishment, accusations of plagiarism, and behind-the-scenes scandal as an author slowly loses his cool. Still sounds like Internet bloggers to me. Here’s the first official trailer:
The presence of Dennis Quaid has me flashing back to Frequency, where characters conversed from different eras in time. But I don’t think that’s what The Words is aiming for. Based on the trailer, it appears that Cooper’s character, a struggling novelist, somehow steals a manuscripts penned decades earlier by an author who is wrestling with many of the same demons. I’m sure there’s another twist built into this literary drama, though the teaser trailer wisely hides it.
That’s because The Words can brag about its stellar cast and (likely) sell tickets. Cooper has made a few wise decisions outside of this money-making Hangover franchise. (See Limitless, if you haven’t yet.) Saldana’s a talented beauty. And Klugman and Sternthal’s supporting cast rounds out with the likes of Jeremy Irons, J.K. Simmons, Ben Barnes, Ron Rifkin, Quaid and Olivia Wilde. That’s enough to get me in the door on opening weekend. What do you think? Is this trailer selling you on The Words? Or will you need to read a few favorable words from critics closer to the film’s Sept. 21 release date? Let us know.
