The Paper

Directed by Ron Howard, The Paper follows tabloid editor Henry Hackett (Michael Keaton) as he’s faced with a variety of personal and professional problems over the course of one very long, very eventful day. It’s clear right away that The Paper benefits substantially from Keaton’s typically stellar turn as the central character, with the actor’s charismatic performance perpetuating (and heightening) the film’s compulsively watchable atmosphere on a continuing basis. (There’s little doubt, too, that the stellar supporting cast, which includes Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, and Randy Quaid, plays a pivotal role in confirming the film’s success.) Filmmaker Howard employs a brisk pace that’s certainly an ideal match for David and Stephen Koepp’s lightning-quick screenplay, and it’s worth noting, as well, that the scripters have infused the narrative with an authenticity that generally proves impossible to resist. (The film’s staff-meeting sequences are an especially apt example of this, as such moments boast a lived-in, fly-on-the-wall feel that’s nothing short of mesmerizing.) The Paper remains completely engrossing right up until its final half hour, with the climax perhaps just a little too frenetic and overblown for its own good (ie there’s just too much happening here) – which ultimately cements the movie’s place as a very entertaining, unapologetically ludicrous, and somewhat overlong effort from filmmaker Howard.

*** out of ****