The Paperboy (2012)

Happy Valentine's Day!  Here's a movie about love...sorta.    I don't even know how to classify this movie. It's weird, dirty, gross, compelling, humorous, and disgusting by turns.

Jack Janson (Zac Efron) is at a crossroads in his life.  After getting kicked out of college for a prank gone wrong, Jack loafs about his father's (Scott Glen) house, delivering papers in the morning and annoying the maid (Macy Gray) the rest of the time, seemingly content to coast along.  Until his brother, Ward (Matthew McConaughey), comes back to town to write a story for the Miami Times.  Charlotte Bless (Nicole Kidman) has contacted Ward because she believes that one of her prison pen pals, Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack) was unfairly tried and will soon be executed for first-degree murder.  Ward and his partner, Yardley (David Oyelowo), begin investigating Hillary's movements on the day in question while young Jack tags along, mostly to ogle the Brigitte-Bardot-on-a-budget, Charlotte.

Mostly this movie is famous because of a scene where Charlotte urinates on Jack after he is stung by jellyfish.  That is not the most awkward scene in the movie.  That has to be when Charlotte masturbates for the voyeuristic pleasure of her death row boyfriend in a room with Ward, Jack and Yardley.  Yeah, it's that kind of movie.

I have to hand it to the actors involved, though.  They commit.  I haven't seen Efron in anything other than Hairspray so it was nice to witness some more dramatic behavior.  He also spends a lot of time with his shirt off, which doesn't hurt.  David Oyelowo really is fantastic no matter who he is playing.  Yes, he got snubbed for Selma this year, but a man that talented is practically guaranteed an Oscar at some point.

Lee Daniels had two movies released in 2013, this and The Butler, and the two could not be more dissimilar in tone.  The color yellow overlays nearly every scene.  It made me think of old pulp detective novels discolored by the sun, trashy certainly but with a lurid charm all their own.  I can understand why people called this movie polarizing.  You're either down with the sleaze or you're not.   Netflixgave it the same recommendation as Showgirls (1.6 stars) so let that be your guide.