THE PAPER
US, 1994, 112 minutes, Colour.
Michael Keaton, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, Marisa Tomei, Randy Quaid, Jason Alexander, Spalding Gray, Catherine O’ Hara.
Directed by Ron Howard.
The Paper is another satisfying popular drama from Ron Howard. Howard, the former child actor, has had a distinguished career as a director with films including Nightshift, Splash, Willow, Parenthood, Backdraft, Far and Away, Apollo 13, Ransom, Ed-TV and A Beautiful Mind.
The screenplay follows a day in the life of a New York tabloid, modelled on the New York Post. Glenn Close is the managing editor, a dominating and fear-inspiring character. She clashes with reporter Michael Keaton, who is having problems with his relationship with his wife, Marisa Tomei. Robert Duvall is the veteran reporter.
The film shows the work of the reporters, the editing, the collecting of news, the editorial decisions, the make-up of the paper, the printing of the paper - and the crises when a story which has been wrongly reported needs to be changed and production must stop.
The film gives an authentic feel of people who work for a paper and the life of the paper itself.
1.Popular entertainment, the tradition of films about getting out papers, characters, verbal interplay, situations, issues?
2.A New York story, the offices, the streets, the homes, Justice Department, bars? Musical score and final song?
3.The title, the focus on newspapers and their role in '90s society, information, entertainment? Scandal sheets, sensationalising news? Information? The opening with the radio? The reporters watching TV? 24 hours in a paper's life?
4.Michael Keaton as Henry: 24 hours in his life, waking up, his background, asleep dressed, his work, love for the paper, ambition? His relationship with Martha, the expecting of the baby? His not being at home? The clashes with Alicia, putting her off on the phone? The fights? His relationship with his secretary, her advice and help? Friendship with McDougall? The boss, everybody knowing about his interview? The pressure from Martha, going to the interview, the different style of paper, the employer and his reference to "cute", Henry stealing the information, not wanting to work in world news but in New York news? Martha's phone calls, her coming to the office, people arguing, the reporter wanting his special chair? McDougall? firing the shot? The meetings, front pages, choices about news? The clashes with Alicia? The basic story of the two young men, `Gotcha' and his reaction? The information about the bank, the Justice Department, Martha following up the clues and getting the information, needing to get the police to verify and going for the interview with McDougall? The pressure on the police officer? His interaction with his parents, the meal? Their disappointment about his losing the interview? The phone with the proprietor of The Sentinel and the argument about ethics? Getting the information, wanting to stop the press, his devices, the literal fight with Alicia? His losing? Going home, Martha's illness, going to the hospital? The birth of the baby? The end of 24 hours? A good but ambitious man? His integrity?
5.Martha, pregnant, background of her work as a reporter, her anxiety, the dinner date and discovering her friend drinking, her not wanting that to happen, going to the office, arguments with Henry, the dinner date, getting the information, the drinks with her contact? Her anger with Henry, her collapse, the birth? The happiness with the baby?
6.Alicia, tough, hiring and firing, disliked by the staff, her affair, her business and money difficulties, her discussions with the boss, the clashes with Henry, issues, `Gotcha'? The discussion about her contract and looking for further employment? Going to the dinner, the De Niro invitation and $500? Accosting the proprietor, his arguing with her, her going over her boss's head, the confrontation in the lavatory? The stopping of the press, the fight with Henry, going to the bar with Mc Dougall, arguing about ethics? Her wanting to stop the press, being shot, going to the hospital, arguing about the phone - and getting the nurse to buy her own paper?
7.Mc Dougall as a columnist writer, parking and the issues of the city, with the gun, shooting at the roof for Martha's sake, sleeping on the couch, the vendetta against Sanduski? Going to the police, helping Henry with the interview? Going with Alicia to the bar, Sanduski?
8.The boss, his type, work, his illness? The meetings and his interaction with the individuals? The discussions with Henry on the roof? Going to see his daughter and her spurning him? The doctor? The bar and the discussions with Sanduski? Going to his daughter's house and watching her read the paper (his paper), husband and child?
9.The staff, the diversity of personalities, at work, checking on spelling, the people running the press, the pressures?
10.The messy photographer, her going to the court, falling - but her photos being used?
11.The young black men, coming across the dead men in the car, being caught, the situation at home, the brutality of the police raid and their arrest, going to prison, the police using them, the truth about the Mob? The young men being used - but being vindicated by the paper?
12.Sanduski and his being a state official, his being persecuted?
13.The politics of the newspaper, the status of the paper, its readership, energy, integrity? The role of media and the news?
