Based on American novelist Pete Dexter's best seller, it was adapted with insight by Daniels, who earned an Academy Award nomination as Best Director for Precious and also produced the Oscar-winning Monster's Ball.
Set in the Deep South of the US in 1969, The Paperboy is steeped in blatant racism, physical and emotional abuse, and the immorality of human beings at their most vulnerable.
The story deals with an arrogant and esteemed reporter for The Miami Times, Ward (Matthew McConaughey) arrives in town with his writing partner Yardley (David Oyelowo), to investigate the trial of unsavoury alligator hunter Hillary van Wetter (John Cusack), who is on Death Row. He asks his brother Jack (Zac Efron) to be their driver and they are led into the investigation by sex bomb Charlotte Bless (Nicole Kidman), who can prove Van Wetter's innocence and get him off Death Row. Jack is at a crossroads in his life and Charlotte is nothing like any other woman he has ever known. Since his and Ward's mother left them so long ago, his knowledge of the opposite sex is relegated to the time he hangs out with their housekeeper, Anita (Macy Gray). But as this unlikely foursome spends more and more time together, facts in the case are becoming murkier and murkier, just like the swamps that surround them. Van Wetter refuses to co-operate, Charlotte sends mixed signals to everyone-especially to Jack, Ward becomes more secretive as they get further into this investigation, and Yardley shows his conniving and opportunistic true colours.
The raw and extremely fragile characters will break your heart and they are brought vividly to life by the finest actors in the world, emerging themselves heart and soul into the world and lives of their demanding characters. McConaughey and Efron are magnificent as the idealistic brothers, whose diverse sexual preferences lead them down dark alleys. Their dynamic relationship is explosive and soulful. McConaughey adds another refined layer of brilliance to his level of performance, perfecting the masterful precision of his craft, which was also reflected in Killer Joe, in which he played a repugnantly flawed character. Efron perfectly captures the essence of a young rebel who comes of age and whose sexual awakening rouses the devil in him. It seems as if both McConaughey and Efron are taking a huge step forward in their careers, blatantly tarnishing their "pretty boy" image and sex symbol status with their daring and provocative choice of roles. It's refreshing to see actors of this calibre take the plunge and rip the heart and soul out of their tortured characters.
We have seen Nicole Kidman at her best with performances in films like The Hours, and most recently Stoker. With The Paperboy, Kidman undeniably proves that she is one of the best actresses of our time. Daniels' mercifully allows Kidman to explore her ambiguously sexual character to the extreme; Kidman's dedication and passion as an artist is one you will always remember. There are moments in The Paperboy, particularly the prison scene between Kidman and Cusack, that will definitely become one of the most talked about scenes in film history. Equally brilliant is John Cusack as you've never seen him before, tearing into his murderous and malevolent character with vigour.
There are also strong performances from David Oyelowo as the relentless journalist, and Macy Gray delivers a tour de force as the housekeeper whose tormented recollections drive the narrative. Daniels' strong visual flamboyance and daring use of film allows image and sound to draw us into the intricate emotions and rough textures of the story and its characters. Using jarring imagery and vibrant colours that are sometimes muted, Daniels bleeds it into the darkness of the narrative.
The Paperboy explodes with extreme force, yet cultivating a calm demeanour when dealing with the stillness of exposed intimacy. The Paperboy is an excellent film in which you can fully immerse yourself in the emotional and physical action; the experiences and harsh realism of Daniels' provocative direction allows the brutality to strike a mighty but meaningful blow.
This is definitely a world where the characters depend on "the kindness of strangers", reminiscent of the dramas of Tennessee Williams and playwrights like Sam Shepard. If you are looking for a film that will challenge you emotionally and intellectually, The Paperboy guarantees a rewarding experience. It's a powerful film, with powerhouse performances and potent direction; an ideal opportunity to experience the art of film magnified 10 times.
The New York Times' best-selling author Pete Dexter, writer of such American classics as Paris Trout and Deadwood, adapted his book of the same name for the big screen with director Lee Daniels. Daniels, who last helmed the Academy Award-winning Precious, is directing this unique character-driven thriller set in central Florida during the late 1960s.
"It's a ride. You are thrown into the abyss and you are out there and in it. I like doing movies where we've gone and chartered new terrain," said Daniels. "The Paperboy is where you'll be in a place that you've never been before, a place you've never seen, and you'll explore situations and people in a way I've never seen before on screen."
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