the fresh films reviews

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The Paper (1994)

Director:
Ron Howard
COUNTRY
USA
GENRE
Comedy/Drama
NORWEGIAN TITLE
-
RUNNING TIME
112 minutes
Producer:
Brian Grazer
Frederick Zollo
Screenwriter:
David Koepp
Stephen Koepp


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Henry Hackett Michael Keaton ½
Bernie White Robert Duvall ½
Alicia Clark Glenn Close ½
Martha Hackett Marisa Tomei ½
Michael McDougal Randy Quaid
Graham Keighley Jason Robards
Marion Sandusky Jason Alexander
Paul Bladden Spalding Gray
Susan Catherine O'Hara
Ray Blaisch Clint Howard

 

Review

Ron Howard's The Paper is probably the most detailed and passionate portrait of life in the newspaper business ever to be captured on film. This makes the film valuable and interesting, and it also keeps the at times stereotypical characters vibrant and believable. The acting here is a mixture of down to earth and quirky, but with such fine cast, they largely pull it off without stretching too much. Howard directs at a lightning pace, which borders on being exhausting but is mostly engaging. There are a handful of delightful, level-headed scenes that give the film a wonderful, everyday-feel. Unfortunately, the ending is a bit too convenient and slick. A few scenes (such as the ones involving Jason Alexander and the Keaton/Close "chick fight") seem out of place and scripted, but they don't rob the film of its entertainment value. Duvall, Keaton and Quaid all deliver fine performances, while Glenn Close overacts her part into semi-ridicule.

Copyright © 27.7.2005 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang [HAVE YOUR SAY]