The Paper

A pleasant Sunday relax. Ron Howard either masters his biographies brilliantly or relaxes with such chill movies as The Paper. Aka the lives of journalists who do not have it easy, both in private life and at work. The whole thing, by the way, is done in a very honest and purely American spirit. There’s a good American, a bad American, they both have a legacy and it all ends in a comeback. And all of that is accompanied by 1990s American music in the background. Yeah, I really like the atmosphere of American movies. It’s great to chill to. The main characters are incredibly laid back and all of that is helped by the beautiful setting of New York. What more could you want… (02.12.2013)

A predictable and artificial affair from a director who is indeed a pro, but as such, plays it safe and I definitely never expect any original, provocative, or experimental films from him. As a comedy, it doesn't work for me; rather, it feels like an attempt to capture the dramatic atmosphere of a typical workday in the office of a New York newspaper. Unfortunately, both the screenwriter and director idealize this world in line with the typically American theses about journalism being the strongest pillar of democracy. The seemingly emotionless dialogues and actions feel like paper shuffling to me, and I don't believe in them whatsoever. Of course, truth and justice will prevail, but it's typical American sentimentality, filmed pleasantly, does not force you to think, and is far removed from reality. American journalism is quite servile compared to, for example, British journalism, and generally more tame because it's dependent on influential advertisers and political elites. And that is only worsening with the pressure of the internet and the shift of potential readers toward bloggers and online news. One of the key scenes, Michael Keaton's fight on the side of good against Glenn Close's side of evil, didn't come across as funny, but rather forced. Not even the presence of one of my favorite actresses Marisa Tomei saved it for me. Overall impression: 45%. (16.09.2011)