The Paperboy

Lee Daniels’ follow up to his 2009 Oscar winner Precious is not a good film by any measurement other than that of an exploitation movie, but by that measurement I think it is kind of great. The Paperboy is a hicksplotation / blacksplotation hybrid filmed with an Ozsplotation sensibility. However it begs the question, is there such thing as an exploitation film when there isn't really a market out there to be exploited? I just don't see the types of folks who use to come out for a movie like this coming out for this one when we have the internet and reality TV for free. Then again, if the exploitation is merely that of the stars, then perhaps there is a market since art house folks--and really all movie lovers--always like to see famous people doing "what-the-fuck-stuff" on screen and pondering what lead to these choices. There are certainly scenes in this picture that will make you go, "who the fuck thought of that?!"