Fighting Words (2007)

"An engrossing tale about the surprisingly cutthroat world of competitive poetry. Edwards brings alive this special world of competitive poetry along with creating unapologetically intelligent key characters. The stars are solidly supported by C. Thomas Howell as Jake's ferociously unscrupulous rival; Williamson as Gabriel, Jake's no-nonsense mentor; Michael Parks as one of Gabriel's regular customers, unscrupulous behind a garrulous old codger facade; Albert as Marni's overly prissy boss; and Fred Willard as the witty, energetic host of an important poetry slam. Edwards proves a skilled writer of depth and ingenuity - e.g., he punctuates the progress of Jake and Marni's story with apt recitations by actual poets of their work - and his unpretentious style builds to a climactic sequence of deeply involving suspense." - Kevin Thomas, LA Times

"A loquacious recasting of the underdog Rocky tale set against a fresh, contemporary backdrop, Fighting Words is about one man's quest to locate the requisite courage and discipline to match his passion". - Brent Simon, LA Film Critics Association

"...exciting and innovative... Brimming with the same passion for wordplay, expression and connectivity that its characters display, Fighting Words features fine work from a diverse cast..." - Cinema Art Magazine

"...a treasure. Solid film marking the resurgence of C. Thomas Howell..." - Digital Pimp

"...the poetry in Street Poet is actually pretty good, the best being a bit from Howell..." - C. Null - Filmcritic.com