The Paper

Starring: Michael Keaton, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, Marisa Tomei, Randy Quaid, Jason Robards, Jason Alexander, Spalding Gray, Catherine O'Hara, Lynne Thigpen, Clint Howard
Directed by: Ron Howard
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Comedy
1994

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A newspaper editor (Michael Keaton) struggles to balance his hectic work life with his pregnant wife (Marisa Tomei) and contemplating a career move, all while working through a breaking story with large ramifications for the paper.

Review:

Tim: I enjoyed Ron Howard's The Paper, a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at 24 hours in a New York tabloid newspaper. The movie feels very much a product of the 1990s, but it also feels like a throwback to newspaper films of the 1940s and 50s. The film unfurls at a frenetic pace- there's constant movement, talking, action. These are all characters who live their lives by the almighty deadline and it impacts everything about them. This is a solid, entertaining movie and well worth seeing.

Upon reflection, it's impressive how much David and Stephen Koepp crammed into this film. It's a movie that feels like it's nearly overflowing. We have the main newspaper story of two black men arrested for a grisly murder that they likely didn't commit- and the rush of the press to condemn them. We get so much insight into how newspapers run- having to rewrite stories, contact witnesses, find evidence, get scoops. Then there's all the newspaper team dynamics- the fascinating highs and lows, ups and downs of having multiple strong-willed, intelligent, opinionated people crammed together and wrapped in urgency. We get to see how their relationships influence the working environment. Finally, we get to see the personal lives of at least a few of these characters- to learn about them, their motivations, their fears. This all combines into a frantic 1 hour 52 minute film that really feels like it lifts the curtain and allows us to peek inside the the newsroom walls. It's great fun to watch all this happening on screen, with very little time for breaks or breathing.

The cast obviously contributes greatly to this film's success. Michael Keaton is really the headline here, in a fantastically energized role, the center point of the wheel upon which everything else turns. Keaton has always been such a likeable guy- you connect with him emotionally, you root for him. His character here is excellent and he does exceptional working bringing him to life. He's our conduit into this world and we enjoy seeing things through his eyes. Marisa Tomei is excellent as his pregnant wife. It feels like this might just be a throwaway role at the outset of the film, but Tomei connects with the audience, surprises us with her intelligent, warm, and strong performance. Everything she does on screen is worthwhile and contributes to the film. Robert Duvall gives his prototypical tremendous performance. I'm always amazed at how effortlessly he acts- it never feels forced. He feels completely at ease and authentic in his role here. The scenes with Duvall are all among the film's best. Glenn Close adds a great supporting performance, too. She's tough as nails, demanding, compelling. I read that they originally wrote this part as a man, changed it to a woman, cast Close, and changed nothing else about the role. Brilliant, and Close was perfect to bring this character to reality. Randy Quaid adds some nice moments- he's always been a terrific supporting actor and while he doesn't have a ton of screen time, makes an outsized contribution with the time he has. It was fun to see Jason Robards, Jason Alexander, and Catherine O'Hara in small supporting roles, too. Howard and his team cast the heck out of this film.

One aspect of The Paper that I find fascinating is that it's really a dramedy. You could have taken this film as a straight drama, and many great newspaper films do that. However, this movie really leans into the comedy aspects at times- it never feels forced or over-the-top, but you can tell Howard wanted the tone to be more lighthearted. It's almost like he delights in the insanity of a 24-hour tabloid newspaper and while the movie tackles important themes like justice, racism, and the immense power and responsibility of the press, he also wants to have fun and laugh at these larger-than-life characters and the crazy lives they live. You don't often see a film that has such dramatic moments but really has no interest in being a prestige drama. This film wants to enjoy the experience and routinely brings more lighthearted moments to the affair.

I really enjoyed The Paper and would highly recommend it. It does feel like it obviously falls short of greatness. The film was nominated for just 1 Academy Award, for Best Original Song and didn't win. I'd say the assessment of the movie in 1994/1995 feels similar to what I'd say today- it's really good and should be celebrated, but it's not a great film. It never goes deep enough, never delivers a single truly outstanding moment. And, that's okay- the film is content to be what it is, a fast-paced, funny, serious look at a tabloid newspaper. That is definitely worth our time.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: All the President's Men, The Post, Absence of Malice, Multiplicity