• The Paperboy (2012)

    In 1969 Florida, reporter Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) returns to his hometown to write a story about death-row inmate Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack), who was convicted of murdering a racist lawman. Ward hires his younger brother, Jack (Zac Efron), as a driver and, together with his partner, Yardley (David Oyelowo), gets to work. Though the possibility exists that Van Wetter...

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The Paperboy
45
metacriticBased on 38 Critics
57
Based on 52 Users

Release Date: October 5th, 2012

DVD Release Date: January 22nd, 2013

R |1 hr 47 min

Plot Summary

In 1969 Florida, reporter Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) returns to his hometown to write a story about death-row inmate Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack), who was convicted of murdering a racist lawman. Ward hires his younger brother, Jack (Zac Efron), as a driver and, together with his partner, Yardley (David Oyelowo), gets to work. Though the possibility exists that Van Wetter is innocent, Ward and Yardley unwisely trust a vixen (Nicole Kidman) who will do anything to set the convict free.

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, David Oyelowo, Macy Gray, John Cusack, Nicole Kidman, Scott Glenn, Ned Bellamy

Director: Lee Daniels

Genres: Drama

Production Co: Nu Image, Lee Daniels Entertainment

Keywords: 1960s, Dark, Small town, Tense, Quest, Brother, Rescue, Offbeat, Prison

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Cast & Crew

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 10
    Scott TobiasNPR

    The words "florid" and "inert" are not quite antonyms, but it would nonetheless seem impossible for those two adjectives to apply to the same thing. And yet here comes The Paperboy, a swamp noir so spectacularly incompetent that even the ripest pulp attractions are left to rot in the sun, flies buzzing lazily around them. show more

  • 80
    Todd McCarthyThe Hollywood Reporter

    In the spirit of the venture, the entire cast gets down and comes off all the better for it. Both Efron and McConaughey get very messed up physically, and both actors seem stimulated to be playing such flawed characters. show more

  • 40
    Movieline

    The Paperboy is a nutty movie in terms of content, but it's also assembled in a demented fashion - there's a sense that literally anything could happen, and that its raunchy, heat-dazed story could wander down any path without regard to sense or an overall narrative. show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com

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Awards

Nominated Best Performance By an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Golden Globes (2013)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2013)