THE PAPERBOY

US, 2012, 122 minutes, Colour.
Zac Efron, Matthew Mc Connaughey, Nicole Kidman, John Cusack, Macy Gray, Scott Glenn, David Oyelowo.
Directed by Lee Daniels.

This is a world that most of us do not enter too often. And, at the end (as well as during), we might be wondering what we are doing here.

On the immediate surface, it looks like one of those journalistic films where reporters come to a town to investigate how the law was applied in a particular case. That certainly happens. However, what we are treated to is a motley group of people with problems (real Problems) who interact strangely with one another and who give us a picture of some of the more bizarre aspects of human nature.

It is the American South in the latter 1960s. For some, that might explain it at once. This is a South where many of the white inhabitants are still as racist as in slavery days (probably not acknowledging that these days should have gone long since) – and that includes one or other of the main characters. Perhaps it’s the heat or the steamy atmosphere, but sexual behaviour, of all kinds, seem to seep through all the time. With the racism and the sensuality, the investigative journalism takes second place.

But, there is something fascinating about this kind of story, this kind of treatment, this kind of expedition into somewhat forbidden territory. The Paperboy definitely keeps one attentive unless one is immediately repelled and that is that.

The film is narrated by the family maid, Anita (Macy Gray), so already the screenplay offers a perspective from the African American perspective, from a woman who has served the family, been accepted, been humiliated. Director and co-writer, Lee Daniels (Precious) is also African- American.

The focus is on Jack (Zac Efron), younger brother of journalist Ward (Matthew Mc Connaughey). He has been a scholarship swimmer but has dropped out and just seems to be lazing around the house. He leaps at the opportunity to drive his brother around during his investigations. His brother is accompanied by a black journalist (David Oyelowo), who poses as a Londoner to try to maintain some status.

But the straightforwardness of the venture veers off course with the arrival of Charlotte, an easy-going kind of woman who corresponds with prisoners and believes that the accused murderer of a local sheriff, whom the journalists want to have a fair trial, is the man of her dreams – just on the evidence of his letters.

Things go awry.

Charlotte meets her would-be fiancé, Hilary (John Cusack) who has more than a lecherous eye. Jack becomes infatuated with Charlotte, no matter what. Ward has some dark secrets which lead to him being beaten up. And, in keeping with the pessimistic tone of the film, there are no real happy endings.

One of the compelling curiosities of the film is to see stars playing against familiar type. Nicole Kidman stands out as the sluttish Charlotte. John Cusack, usually a goodie, is not so convincing as the loathsome Hilary. Matthew Mc Connaughey plays against his laid-back romantic image. Zac Efron proves that he does not have to stay in High School Musical territory.

This is an excursion into a deep South of contemporary (that is of the 1960s) decadence.

1. A story of the American South? The 1960s? Issues of racism, prisons, capital punishment? Journalism? families and relationships?

2. The title, the reference to Jack, his perspective on characters and events? His place in the family, memory of his mother? Treatment by his father? Getting a job as the journalists’ driver, visiting the prison, meeting Charlotte, attraction to her, his growing up?

3. The Florida setting, 1967, the atmosphere, homes, the prisons, newspaper offices, the contrast with the woods, the lake, the isolation, the rivers? The musical score?

4. The framework of the story: the maid, the interview, her response to questions, her perspective, experience, the past? The treatment of African- Americans? Her role as a servant in the house? Treatment of her, friendship and Jack, respect from Ward, the father and his new wife? Her condescending attitudes? The film returning to her interview throughout? Her observations of situations, the characters, the issues?

5. Zac Efron as Jack? His place in the family, age, university career, the swimming sequences, his behaviour, ousted from the University? At home, not having anything to do? In his room, the maid coming in, his being in his underwear, the talk? The maid liking him, at ease, banter, doing his washing? His use of the word ‘nigger’, the embarrassment, Ward urging him to apologise? His apology? His not being considered sufficiently grown-up?

6. Ward and Yardley, the reputation as journalists, their arrival, the car, Jack picking them up, Yardley and his sense of himself? In the family, Yardley as black in this situation and time? Ward at home, his relationship with his father, discussions about the papers? Relating to the new wife? The aim with the article and the research? Van Wetter and the accusations, innocent or not? The death penalty? The campaign against it? Ward and his visit to the isolated community, Van Wetter’s relations, the hostility, the cousin and his wife and children, their work in the swamps? Ward and his visits to Van Wetter in prison?

7. Yardley, pretentious, his manner, behaviour, at the table, his work in the investigation, his pride as a writer, visits to the prison and his sardonic remarks, his response to Charlotte, the casual sexual encounter? His getting information about the alibi but not researching it properly? His editing Ward’s text? Jack and the confrontation? Young revealing the truth about himself, not from London, and the reason for his pretences? His relationship with Ward, the sexual encounter and the consequences?

8. Charlotte, seeing her at work with the other ladies? Writing letters to prisoners? The romantic attitude? Idealising Van Wetter? her vampish attitudes? The clothes, the dress, the prison? Meeting Van Wetter for the first time, her sexual behaviour, his response, in the presence of the others? The second visit and his criticising her for not wearing a dress? Charlotte with Ward, the letters, the documentation? The sexual encounter with Yardley? The friendship with Jack, response to him, her knowing what he wanted, his swimming, the jellyfish, the recommended treatment, urinating on him, the newspaper headlines? Initiating the sexual encounter, letting Jack go? Marrying Van Wetter?

9. Van Wetter itself? The opening, the killing of the sheriff and the maid’s description? His being visualised, shot, crawling, his reputation, death? Van Wetter imprisoned, redneck attitudes? The sexual behaviour with Charlotte? His cousins vouching for him, the jobs and deliveries? Getting out, marrying Charlotte, his brutal treatment of her, her isolation? The visit of Ward and Jack? Confrontation, the guns, stalking in the river? Killing Ward and Charlotte? His own death?

10. The father, the paper, the tradition? The woman from New York, the editing, taking over, at the meals, chicken with her fingers? Marrying the editor? Talk about stories, attitude towards them advertising, Jack and his headlines about the jellyfish?

11. Ward the , his attempt to tell Jack about his sexual orientation, going to the city, the bar, the pickup, the violence, the sadistic behaviour, his injuries, abandoned, Jack’s reaction, getting him to hospital?

12. Jack, the infatuation continuing with Charlotte? Going to visit her? The audience seeing the brutality towards her? Jack, the confrontation? Ward dying? Van wetter dying? The bodies of the two in the boat?

13. The film’s impact strong, melodrama, journalists’ story, violence, prison, the death penalty, racism and the American South?