The Paperboy Reviews
Rip It Up
While there's much here about family loyalty and a 'don't mess with the swamp' aspect, Daniels' film has nevertheless been most discussed for its sex stuff, with every character having some sleazy secret or a scene devoted to their raunchy pleasure.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3.5/5
Screenwize
A seething, swampy murder investigation infused with the sweaty smell of bodies and driven by a casual force that is seductively unstable, darkly funny and strangely exhilarating. Daniels is a visionary.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
Times [UK]
The Paperboy is flawed, more deserving of a rubbernecking than a viewing. But it's hard to tear your eyes away.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
Film4
You certainly couldn't accuse anyone involved in The Paperboy of playing it safe, and for this reason, Lee Daniels' film is one to file under misjudged must-sees.
Birmingham Mail
( ... ) a film that captivates, puzzles and loses its own sense of direction in equal measure
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
3AW
Judging by her edgier scenes [Nicole] Kidman is clearly uninterested in currying any favour at the multiplex. And all credit to her.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
Scotsman
There is a certain trashy appeal, but in the end it's all too random to really mean anything. Apart from the cast, The Paperboy just doesn't deliver.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
Digital Spy
What a cast. What a disappointment.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2/5
Contactmusic.com
Filmmaker Daniels follows up his acclaimed hit Precious with what might be the trashiest movie in recent memory: a swampy thriller packed with desperate characters hiding grisly secrets.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
This is London
It may yet become a camp classic, if no other kind.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2/5
Daily Express
The plotting is disjointed, the execution feels incoherent and none of it makes a great deal of sense.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2/5
Irish Times
With Precious and The Paperboy, Daniels has confirmed his status as the most emotionally incontinent director of his generation.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2/5
Daily Mail [UK]
It's difficult to know what's going on, and even harder to care.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2/5
Sun Online
At least The Paperboy delivers plenty of memorable moments - even if you may wish you hadn't seen many of them.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
Financial Times
So bad it isn't even good-bad.
Full Review
| Original Score: 0/5
Little White Lies
A sleazy, overstuffed and terribly directed mess. But never boring and occasionally jaw-dropping.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
ViewLondon
Sweaty, sleazy and gloriously trashy, this is a thoroughly enjoyable slice of Southern-fried neo-noir with stylish direction, a delightfully twisted script and a trio of terrific performances from Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey and Zac Efron.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
Daily Star
Daniels probably makes the mistake of putting character and atmosphere ahead of plot. But with a cast like this you can hardly blame him.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
