In honor of this week’s release of “The Words,” the story of a writer who passes off another man’s book as his own, I thought I’d suggest some other movies about writers. Movies are, after all, written by writers, so they understand and are fascinated by people who tell stories.
The Front
is another story about a writer taking credit for someone else’s work, but this time it is based on a true story and with the writer’s permission. Woody Allen plays a man who is hired by a blacklisted writer during the McCarthy era to put his name on the other man’s scripts so he can continue to work.
American Splendor is the story of a man who turned his anguished view of life into a series of acclaimed graphic novels.
Shakespeare in Love
is not exactly based on the real history of the greatest writer in the English language, but the script by playwright Tom Stoppard includes some insightful and heartfelt moments about the agony and inspiration of the writing life.
Little Women
is a fictional version of Louisa May Alcott’s family and the character of Jo March reflects her real-life passion for writing.
Capote
won Philip Seymour Hoffman an Oscar for his portrayal of writer Truman Capote as he writes his last great story, the “nonfiction novel” about a brutal real-life murder.
In honor of this week’s release of “The Words,” the story of a writer who passes off another man’s book as his own, I thought I’d suggest some other movies about writers. Movies are, after all, written by writers, so they understand and are fascinated by people who tell stories.