The Paper (1994)

With 'The Paper' director Ron Howard set out to make one of those newpaper movies that were so common in the 30's through early 50's, like 'The Front Page', 'His Girl Friday' and 'Deadline U.S.A.'. The tropes are certainly here, Randy Quad playing a slovenly reporter who turns out to be very capable, Robert Duvall as a crusty old editor hiding his cancer, Glenn Close sleeping her way to the top. At first I found them rather off putting, but this movie really grew on me and turned out to be very well constructed, and even had a couple of things to say. ***