Lee Daniels Says ‘The Paperboy’ Reviews Practically Destroyed His Career

I won’t get into the nitty gritty as to why Lee Daniels’ “The Paperboy” (2012) was such a batsh*t crazy vision, but just know that this is the film where Nicole Kidman eye-fucks John Cusack from across the room of a no-contact death row prison visit, and Zac Efron dances in his underwear in the rain. Despite the lunacies, it’s an utterly watchable film.

“The Paperboy” was a campy Southern Gothic, which premiered in competition at Cannes, but more importantly came with massive expectations since this was Daniels’ follow-up to his Oscar-winning “Precious.” Daniels’ attempt to circumvent expectations, and make a totally different film, backfired.

Of course, critics hated it, IndieWire referred to it as the film where “Kidman pisses on Efron.” Yeah, that’s another wacko scene in the film. If you haven’t seen it, watch it tonight and revel in its absurdities — there are too many surreal moments to mention.

Daniels’ career got practically derailed after “The Paperboy.” Now, promoting his upcoming Netflix noir “Deliverance,” the filmmaker looks back on the film, stating that he came close to quitting the game after its hostile reception (via IndieWire).

“That movie doesn’t get any love,” he said. “I was going to give up directing after that, because it was so trashed, and reviewers didn’t get the world. I felt like it was my Black version of my white version of ‘The Paperboy.’ I was offered all these Black roles, Black jobs, Black films, and I was like, ‘No, I’m a fucking filmmaker. I’m not just a Black filmmaker. And I really want to work with white actors. How can you label me like this?'”

“I was like, OK, I’m never going to direct again, because they just came for me,” But in spite of the reviews, the film did once hold the standing ovation record at Cannes (15 minutes). However, its morning’s press screening reception was the total opposite — boos, jeers, walkouts galore.

Daniels will continue to defend “The Paperboy.” He says it’s a “misunderstood” film, and I kind of agree with him. It might be not great, but it’s one hell of a fascinating and wrecthedly dirty watch.

“I love all of my work equally, but the ones that were kicked to the curb are the ones that I hold dear to my heart, and [‘The Paperboy’] is something I hold dear to my heart,” Daniels said.

Daniels ended up not quitting the game, but he was never the same after “The Paperboy,” opting to direct safer, more conventional films since then. 2013’s “The Butler,” the most blatant example of Oscar-bait, was a surprise box-office success, and 2021’s “The United States vs Billie Holiday” was a forgettable biopic, but did land Andra Day an Oscar nomination.