MovieChat Forums > The Paper (1994) Discussion > First Time Viewing in June 2015

First Time Viewing in June 2015


My family and I watched The Paper for the first time on cable TV. We totally enjoyed the performances by Michael Keaton, Robert Duvall etc. We had spent the previous night watching The Judge with Robert Duvall, who seemed to also have cancer in two movies 20 years apart.
I found some of the subject matter to be a bit dated, tho. Newspapers are dying a terminal death in 2015. The technology now with web sites, Twitter and cell phone videos have rendered the shout of "stop the presses" obsolete.
That being said, the film is entertaining and the performances are top-notch, even if the paper and ink tech. is outdated now!
I hope Michael Keaton makes a few more movies. I do miss his work.
The Paper is worth two hours of your time, if just to see Keaton being Keaton!

reply

I don't understand comments saying that the paper and ink tech is outdated now. How is it at all relevant if the technology/processes surrounding the story have evolved since?

The story of the film is timeless - a man trying to "do the right thing" against huge family, career and deadline pressures.

Its like saying "oh yeah Jaws is great, even if the swimwear shown in the film is a bit outdated now" or "film noir is great, even if people don't wear hats so much these days".

But yeah I agree its one of Keaton's best films and I wish he'd make more.

reply

You have a good point. Some things are no longer important plot points like "stopping the presses". Once a story is let loose on the Web its out there forever.
It's a great movie and 20+ years later Keaton's "The Globe" is another fantastic newspaper movie.

reply