Paper Boys (2009)

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

A different way of telling a story

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

This looks like someone's homemade cell phone video, and the level of analysis is certainly no better. In nearly all cases, all that is shown of the film is a theatrical trailer which often provides no indication of what will make the film so disappointing. Early on we get an exception with paper boys where the examples for how bad the film truly is are apparent in the trailer. Most of the time the writer perceives the film as good, without any real demonstration or support, which is certainly difficult if this is all you can afford to pay for. The story line is reclusive at best broken up with an amateurish computer sequence of thrown popcorn. A coffee table book would be more useful and more fun. This film gets an F.

Paper Boys is in my view a sort of "Last Picture Show"...with many of the very best elements of that classic. It is quite it's own picture though, with both the curses and blessings of limitations regarding indie films in general. Production value is very good and some of the acting is of very high quality. The screenplay itself is excellent and well above par for films of this nature. The music is a real standout. The score is lush at times, and minimalist at others. I would venture to say this certainly is not your "epic" film, but it is however exactly the kind of film one seeks from independent film makers. A well done personal statement, a room with a view. I highly recommend the film for it's originality and dark humor. Kudos to all involved in this project!

I had the pleasure of viewing this movie at the Atlanta, GA premiere at the Plaza Theatre (2009). First, how did they get that many characters in an indie film?! Very impressive! It had exactly what you wanna see in an independent film. The filmmakers used a big cast and a number of locations in combination with clear direction and cinematography. Often, an indie will seem like a thesis film or lack a message. However, Paper Boys hits its mark with no apologies. The movie deals with subject matter not often dealt w/ in big budget movies. That is to say, it deals with reality. The plot is harsh and unforgiving at times, but the viewer is rewarded with heartfelt performances, in particular by Chris Whitley and Justin Riddick. If you want to watch a movie and not feel as though you have "been there and done that", then see this movie.

OK, it's not "Bridge over the River Kwai", but it is also not an epic. This is just what I look for in independent film, simple, clean, but rich.It is about door-to-door salesmen in Atlanta. They are delightfully evil, but no harm done; they were a perfect example of what kids need when they don't have a "functional family". This film maintained excellent production quality and the editing was fantastic! The soundtrack was a great combination of smart hip-hop and a rich, first rate, custom score.For a film made for less than $200,000 this is as good as it gets, unless you are looking for yet another horror movie.The shooting style was somewhere between cinema verite (hand-held and a lot of POV) and "The Outsiders" mixed with a little 50's "Leave it to Beaver". The contrast between modern and traditional looks definitely hit the symbolism on target of the simple vs the complex.