Lee Daniels followed up his morose, Oscar-nominated directorial effort “Precious” with the fluffier “The Paperboy,” which from the looks of the first trailer, is a sweaty, pulpy neo-noir full of larger-than-life performances from such good lookin’ folks as Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Matthew McConaughey.
It’s a Southern fried murder mystery that promises plenty of twists, turns and out-of-leftfield shocks, many of which have been revealed by those who have already seen it. In it, a Miami reporter (McConaughey) and his younger brother (Efron) investigate a death row inmate (John Cusack), after his wife (Kidman) contacts them.
The film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, where both fans and detractors (it reportedly received boos and a standing ovation at its initial screening) commented on the film’s indulgent, campy tone, Kidman’s up-to-11 performance and its sexy imagery (like Efron and Kidman dancing in the rain, with the former in just his skivvies). Hell, Time Magazine even promises “sensational indignities,” whatever that means.
It also stars Macy Gray (who narrates) and David Oyelowo.
“The Paperboy” opens October 5.
What did you think of the trailer?