THE PAPER
A film review by Chuck Dowling
Copyright 1996 Chuck Dowling
(1994) **** - C:Michael Keaton, Glenn Close, Marisa Tomei, Randy Quaid, Robert Duvall, Catherine O'Hara, Jason Robards, Jason Alexander, Jill Hennessy, Clint Howard, Rance Howard, Bob Costas.
Henry Hackett (Keaton), editor of a New York City tabloid, is doing everything he can to gather enough information to print a big story that could expose a major mafia scandal and free two innocent black youths charged with murder, all while he's racing to meet his deadline for the morning edition. With his wife (Tomei) about to give birth, his argumentative managing editor (Close) always taking the opposing side, and a rival newspaper trying to bring him into their organization, he's confronted with more than one problem in just a 24 hour period.
Hackett's wife wants him to take the job with the other paper, which would pay more money and he would be able to work fewer hours. But Henry isn't so sure. Deep down, he likes his job. He likes the anxiety, the frustration, and the utter chaos of it all.
There are plenty of subplots also. Randy Quaid plays a columnist who's having a war of words with the city's parking supervisor, which later in the film evolves into a much more drastic situation. Robert Duvall, the senior editor of the paper, is undergoing health problems and wants to make up with his daughter, who hasn't spoken to him in years. All of these come together at the end.
Normally, I can't stand movies about journalists and their profession, but director Ron Howard (who in my book has almost a perfect filmography), the excellent script, and the great cast make this one worthwhile. The pacing is perfect, the acting is right on the mark, and it's funny too. There are plenty of one-liners, wisecracks, and amusing situations. An uptight reporter asks Duvall's character to put out his cigar because his doctor found nicotine in his urine, and Duvall's response is priceless.
-- Chuck Dowling Visit Chuck's Movie Reviews at http://users.southeast.net/~chuckd21/ Over 1,500 movies rated and/or reviewed! Movie news, box office reports, film related links, and reader's polls and reviews.
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