The Paperboy Review

11th Mar 2013

Somewhere in the background, there is a story of Hillary Van Wetter, a man that Ward, an investigative reporter, believes has been wrongly convicted for murder. He enlists the help of his brother Jack, and Hillary’s fiancé, Charlotte to help him. Saying all that though – the plot itself is completely incidental; it’s really about how these three people collide, destroy and save eachother.

Ward, played by Mather McConaughey is Jack’s hero; the older brother returning from the big city to investigate the case against Hillary. McConaughey plays Ward with a layered complexity; there are glimmers of all the demons he’s hiding from Jack, but he never hides his love for his brother or Anita, their housekeeper who is a surrogate Mother to both of them.

I’ve often been ridiculed for saying Zac Efron is a fantastic actor, and I stand by it – it’s not his fault his boyish good looks have forced him into a certain type of cinema fare. Even though he spends 80% of the time in various states of undress here, there’s nothing really sexual about it – it’s almost like he’s still a two-year old running around in his pants through the house. Even his repeated attempts to get Charlotte Bless to sleep with him perversely come from a strange innocence over what it means; it’s just an act for her, for him it’s a declaration of love.

Nicole Kidman plays an ‘over-sexed Barbie doll’ with an overzealous perfection. I guarantee you will never think of her the same way. Despite all her flaws and misguided attempts she is still worth caring for. What’s great about casting Kidman in the role is that no matter how lewd and vulgar she is, you see that vulnerability shining through and the tragic trajectory of how she ended up with Hillary is painfully obvious.

Lee Daniels has created a film that despite being visceral, gut wrenching, often-times disgusting, is a beautiful monument to love and self-sacrifice. The affection that Ward and Jack have for eachother is so genuine and moving that it carries you through the bits you can’t even watch on screen. The film has a beautiful antiquated grain to it, the sound track and even editing style are all a throwback to the 60’s and 70’s. Macy Gray’s narration over the top is pitch perfect, lending a lyrical tone that offsets all that barbaric butchery on screen.

I won’t say I was entertained by this film – this is definitely one of those films that goes beyond that. I was left feeling sickened and hollowed out by it, but some films are made for that. An immeasurably moving experience, I recommend you all put your game face on and go watch something that means something to cinema.