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The Paper (1994)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.7/10
Reviews Counted: 32
Fresh: 28 | Rotten: 4

Fast and frenetic, The Paper captures the energy of the newsroom thanks to its cast and director on first-rate form.

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Critic Reviews: 8
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 1

Fast and frenetic, The Paper captures the energy of the newsroom thanks to its cast and director on first-rate form.

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Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 6,653

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Movie Info

Director Ron Howard's drama follows a beleaguered reporter during a hectic 24 hours at a New York City tabloid. Michael Keaton stars as Henry Hackett, a metro editor for the struggling New York Sun. Hackett is being wooed by the Sentinel, a more upscale paper, but he's addicted to the adrenaline-stimulating, breakneck pace of the Sun's newsroom, much to the consternation of his pregnant wife Martha (Marisa Tomei. Hackett is currently pursuing a story of two minority youths who have been arrested

R, 1 hr. 52 min.

Documentary, Drama, Comedy

Directed By: Aaron Matthews , Ron Howard

In Theaters: Mar 18, 1994 Wide

On DVD: Nov 1, 1998

MCA Universal Home Video

The Paper Trailer & Photos

Cast

Michael Keaton
Henry Hackett
Robert Duvall
Bernie White
Glenn Close
Alicia Clark
Marisa Tomei
Martha Hackett
Randy Quaid
McDougal
Jason Robards
Graham Keighley
Jason Alexander
Marion Sandusky
Spalding Gray
Paul Bladden
Catherine O'Hara
Susan
Lynne Thigpen
Janet
Jack Kehoe
Phil
Roma Maffia
Carmen
Clint Howard
Ray Blaisch
Geoffrey Owens
Lou
Amelia Campbell
Robin
William Prince
Henry's Father
Augusta Dabney
Henry's Mother
Bruce Altman
Carl
Jack McGee
Wilder
John Bentley
Paste-Up Person
Divina Cook
Sobbing Woman
Michael Countryman
Emmett
Julie Donatt
Kathy
Gary Dourdan
Copy Guy
Donna Hanover
Herself
Jill Hennessy
Deanne White
Jean Speegle Howard
Hospital Volunteer
Rance Howard
Alicia's Doctor
William Kunstler
Himself
Bobo Lewis
Anna
Kurt Loder
Himself
Louisa Marie
Sentinel Receptionist
Michael P. Moran
Chuck
Harsh Nayyar
Attendant
Joe Pentangelo
Arresting Officer
James Ritz
A.C. Repairman
Myra Taylor
Mother
Victor Truro
Bernie's Doctor
Joe Viviani
Max
Miles Watson
A.C. Repairman
Cedric Young
Martha's Paramedic
Pete Hamill
Himself
Jack O'Connell
Press Operator
Richard Price
Himself
Paul Geier
Doctor Porter
Sally Jane Heit
Grace
Herb Lovelle
Victor
Jane Jenkins
Janet Hirshenson
Stephen Koepp
German Newsperson
Siobhan Fallon
Lisa
John Miller
Himself
Jack A. O'Connell
Press Operator

Critic Reviews for The Paper

All Critics (35) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (28) | Rotten (4)

The picture starts to fall in love with its subject -- head- over-heels in love, until the acid drains from the wit and there's nothing left but sentimental ooze.

April 12, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail

| Comment

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

It's all slick, fizzy fun. But the film's fighting spirit gets snatched.

June 6, 2001 Comment

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

Watching The Paper got me in touch all over again with how good it feels to work at the top of your form, on a story you believe in, on deadline.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Perfectly captures the hubbub of the nation's newsrooms.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Rita Kempley

Washington Post

Top Critic

Thanks to a caffeinated cast and hyperactive script, director Ron Howard delivers The Paper with a bang.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Joe Brown

Washington Post

Top Critic

A crowd pleaser, and, regardless of any viewer's experience (or lack thereof) with the behind-the-scenes wrangling that goes on in newspaper offices, the story is affable and entertaining.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

An overwrought, hysterical drama about the newspaper business that doesn't begin to compare to Hollywood's classics of the genre (The Front Page). The film has an absurdly frantic pace but it's so romantically naive and unsubtle that nothing registers

October 6, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

One of Ron Howard's most underrated films.

September 28, 2005 Comment

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

A great ensemble cast

March 23, 2005 Comment

Clint Morris

Moviehole

Not a bad view of the inner-workings at a daily

July 28, 2003 Comment

Jon Niccum

Lawrence Journal-World

Does it show how newspapers really work? Not really, but who cares? It is great fun, even if it is overdone.

March 23, 2003 Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope

| Comment

Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

Enjoyable, if utterly unrealistic look at journalism

December 21, 2002 Comment

James Sanford

Kalamazoo Gazette

Incisively depicts the ways in which busyness, speed and constant pressure violate our souls in the workplace.

August 20, 2002 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Paper

View All

Great ensemble comedy-drama about a New York Daily tabloid newspaper with Michael Keaton as an editor who has a few hours to get the scoop on a murder and stop cost-conscious managing editor Glenn Close from printing a sensationalistic cover that implies two innocent youngsters are guilty.

March 12, 2007

Dean McKenna

Super Reviewer

With this cast this should have been better.

September 27, 2007

jay nixon

Super Reviewer

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