The title of director Fred Schepisi’s (“Roxanne”) latest romantic dramedy almost gives away too much.
The story focuses on two teachers, Jack Marcus and Dina Delsanto (Clive Owen (“Children of Men”) and Juliette Binoche (“The English Patient”)), frustrated by their students’ lack of passion in school and their own failures in their professional fields. In an attempt to inspire and to prove words superior to pictures, Marcus, an English teacher, declares war on Delsanto, an art teacher, with their students as soldiers. Much of the passion behind this ‘war’ comes from Marcus’s affinity for Delsanto and romance ensues.
The issue with “Words and Pictures” is the plot and characters aren’t new. Owen and Binoche play characters that exist in so many other movies. Marcus, though brilliant, is obscene and rude, desperate to keep his job after several infractions but unwilling to change his behavior. He epitomizes a “tortured writer.” Marcus relentlessly pursues the cold, unattached Delsanto as she is the only one willing to challenge him. Both struggle with demons in their personal lives that translate into their work as they try to get students to care about their studies.
Owen’s acting, though not a poor performance by any means, comes across as Dr. House in a private high school. Binoche does a good job of portraying the frustration her character is experiencing as a medical condition is slowly causing her to lose her ability to paint. However, they are not believable as a romantic pair.
With the lack of chemistry between the two main characters and both actors’ inability to disguise their respective accents, the audience is extremely aware that they are watching is film rather than real life. This feeling is only enhanced by the overuse of cliches— there are few unexpected moments in the film.
Though the plot is predictable, “Words and Pictures” is heightened by some quirky one-liners. Screenwriter Gerald Di Pego does a good job of making an otherwise detestable character redeemable through wit, though it is not enough for us to truly care what happens to him.
Overall, though “Words and Pictures” relies too heavily on tropes that have existed for decades, it is still an uplifting and relatively enjoyable film.
“Words and Pictures” (PG-13, 111 minutes) opens in Washington area theaters on June 6.
