Director: Lee Daniels.
Starring: Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, John Cusack, David Oyelowo, Macy Gray.
Certificate: 18.
Running Time: 107 minutes.
Synopsis: Journalist Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) returns to his hometown to help Hillary (John Cusack), who has been sentenced to the death penalty without a fair trial. Soon Ward, his brother Jack (Zac Efron) and Hillary’s fiancée Charlotte (Nicole Kidman) find themselves involved in more than just a legal battle.
The controversy surrounding THE PAPERBOY hasn’t been missed by many, mainly due to the news of Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman weeing on HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL alum, Zac Efron. Where some have chosen to focus on that detail, there is much more to THE PAPERBOY than only scandal and controversy.
Though it takes on heavy topics including the civil rights movement, homosexuality, media influence and lust being confused for love, the film does so with the assistance of brilliant performances and a surprising amount of humour. A raw film which hides nothing as the darkest secrets of its characters unfold before our eyes, Daniels spends a sufficient amount of time on each character to ensure they have a moment to tell their story, and if not quite relinquish their demons, to at least acknowledge them.
Kidman depicts Charlotte Bless as an incredibly intricate woman who is very aware of her surroundings and what people think of her. Despite a stellar and gripping performance, her fellow cast members manage to perform on her level (including Macy Gray), with John Cusack impressive in a rare, serious role that presents a frightening menace throughout his few scenes.
THE PAPERBOY takes the audience on a ride that is both mesmerising and engaging. Say what you want about the plot and sexually explicit scenes, but there is no denying it is a daring film in regards to both content and cinematography, even if it proves uncomfortable at times to those who are open to the sexual and violent explicitness. Though there are moments in the film that will leave the audience confused due to a lack of clarity from Daniels, this adds to the mystery and unease which accompany this raw and unapologetic thriller that will stay with you for days.
THE PAPERBOY is now available to own on DVD and Blu-ray in the US and is released in UK cinemas on March 15th.
