I know what you mean: after Keaton’s incredible performance in “Birdman” – a role that deserved the Academy Award for Best Actor – after seeing Keaton lay it all out there for his fans….well, I wanted more!
Sure, I can pop in “Beetlejuice” for his madcap antics, or “Mr. Mom” – even “Batman”…because as you can see, Michael Keaton has been in a bunch of great films, but here is perhaps one of his most under-rated and neglected!
The Paper!
Ron Howard directs this wildly entertaining comedy-drama about a day in the life of a New York tabloid newspaper…with a great cast!
Michael Keaton, Marisa Tomei, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close and Randy Quaid head up this ensemble comedy, and Jason Alexander, Jason Robards, Spaulding Gray and Catherine O’Hara all have small roles as well – what a great group of talent!
Michael Keaton plays Henry Hackett, the editor of a New York City tabloid. The movie covers one very dramatic and hilarious day in the life of “The Paper!” Here is the trailer:
The Paper’s owner puts hatchet womman Alicia Clark, played with delicious verve by Glenn Close, in Keaton’s path, leading to an explosive battle over the future of the paper. What I love is that Close had fun playing the “villain” – like when she arrives late to a meeting:
Alicia: “One of our security guards actually tried to frisk me. (pause) We’re having drinks later.”
The entire cast digs into the script and has a blast fighting, swearing, and saying funny one-liners!
Delicious Dialogue!
“The Paper” has a great script from David and Stephen Koepp, with funny little lines like this one:
Henry: “Did McDougal call in?”
Henry’s Secretary: “No.”
Henry: “No message at all from McDougal?”
Henry’s Secretary: “I have no motive for lying, Henry.”
I love the subtle timing of that line! My new favorite response when questioned by someone is:
“I have no motive for lying.”
Another great scene involves Keaton’s conversation with an Editor at the New York Sentinel, clearly meant to be the powerful New York Times.
Keaton: “Let me talk. Let me say something, wait a mi-”
New York Sentinel Editor: “Well, I hope you’re satisfied, asshole! You just blew your chance to cover the world!”
After listening to Spaulding Gray go off on him for a minute, Keaton finally has enough!
Keaton: “Really? Well guess fucking what? I don’t really fucking care. You wanna know fucking why? Because I don’t fucking live in the fucking world! I live in fucking New York City! So go fuck yourself!”
[Keaton slams down telephone back on the receiver]
Keaton’s Secretary: “You handled that well.”
Keaton: “Thank you.”
And again, Keaton’s Secretary delivers her line with perfect deadpan precision…
Ron Howard keeps multiple storylines going – some serious, some comedic, before wrapping it with the greatest newspaper line of all:
“Get Me Rewrite!”
Of course, Director Ron Howard and Michael Keaton go way back – from this image on the set of “Gung Ho!” to the hilarious comedy “Night Shift!”
And of course, Keaton finally got the awards recognition he deserves for his brilliant portrayal of a former Super Hero movie star struggling to stay relevant…
You can read all about “Birdman” and the 2014 Academy Awards by clicking here:
johnrieber 
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