The Paperboy., a drama about murder and lust in a small Southern town in the 1960s, drips with sex and sweat and boasts good performances from its leads, most notably John Cusack and Nicole Kidman. The author of the novel on which The Paperboy is based calls the movie an “embarrassment,” however. It is easy to see why. Lee Daniels, the director, rewrote Pete Dexter’s original script in ways that make no dramatic or logical sense.

Daniels did excellent work on his last movie, Precious. Watching The Paperboy, I felt embarrassed for him and for Dexter. You can read my full review here.