The Paper Store

source: The Paper Store

Actor W. C. Fields observed that "Some contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch ... If a thing is worth having, it's worth cheating for." On the surface, "The Paper Store" is about cheating in the plagiarism of term papers. But at its heart, the film seeks to offer a broader slice of life of academe today. Miss Annalee Monegan has a brilliant mind that she puts to use in writing papers for university students and charging a hefty fee. Mr. Sigurd Rossdale is also a gifted intellect who pays for Miss Monegan's services to get through required courses so that he can focus on his Masters thesis. The couple starts an unorthodox relationship that is stormy and lacks an emotional connection. Mr. Marty Kane is the instructor who discovers the cheating when Miss Monegan turns in Mr. Rossdale after she feels betrayed by him. As a consequence, Miss Monegan is not punished for committing fraud, but promoted to teaching assistant while the instructor Mr. Kane pulls together his tenure dossier and only requires that Mr. Rossdale rewrite his papers. The filmmakers failed to capture even the basics about tenure at a university. An adjunct like Mr. Kane would not be considered for tenure unless he spent five or six years on a tenure-track. And the tenure committee would not care about whether he was grading undergraduates too high or a graduate student too low. Such a committee could care less about teaching and would only be evaluating Mr. Kane's research dossier and publication record. The strength of "The Paper Store" was in the well-crafted dialogue, especially the repartee between Miss Monegan and Mr. Rossdale. The interchanges were lively and served as a parody of the arcane theoretical jargon of a liberal arts course in film art. Some of the commentary about the films of David Cronenberg was so far-fetched that the heart of the discussion addressed abstract matters that Cronenberg would likely have never considered in his ghoulish yet imaginative films. The three principal actors were outstanding in capturing the fluff of today's academic discourse. And the film was successful in raising the question about the true value of an education today. If their years spent in the academy were to have an intrinsic meaning to students' personal lives, it was not apparent in any of the students depicted in this film. As portrayed in the film's closing scenes, the only goal would appear to be a worthless diploma.

This film is as exciting as watching paint dry. I would rather have watched a science review of dung beetle mating. The film has no value, the cinematic release of the Flintstones Movie has more theatrical value.

The Paper Store couldn't have been more boring if it tried. It's about a woman who writes college essays for students (hence The Paper Store, buying college papers), who gets bought by one student to write exclusively for it. The first 20 minutes of the movie felt like an adult movie, with all the sex scenes taken out. The acting is on par with that. We see the couple meet, go back to his place, kiss, fade to black. This then repeats in a coffee shop, and again his place. There is a storyline about her trying to get revenge on him, because he doesn't care enough, but the overall movie was so bad, and the delivery so atrocious, it was hard to care. The one saving grace in the movie is Richard Kind, the professor giving the class she is writing the essays for. He brings some sort of credibility to the role, and rides the line of a professor who seems to care about his student, but really only cares about himself, quite well. This movie devolves into a he said/she said but frankly I don't care either way.

The writing of this screenplay is witty, crisp, and at times biting. Very much in the vein of Arron Sorkin. Though some of the references may fly over your head, the intellectual combat of the characters is humorous and exciting to observe. The cast is amazing! Richard Kind steals the show as Prof. Marty Kane. And the two romantic leads, Stef Dawson and Penn Badgley have electric chemistry on screen together. The sexual tension between them builds with a slow boil that delivers an explosive climax in the final moments. Throw in a few cleverly crafted and well placed camera moves and you've got a solid, quirky indie rom-com that doesn't disappoint.

I found the fim entertaining and not like any of the negative reviews posted. Maybe the Gilmore Girl fans of penn badgely were expecting something else I can't say. But the dialogue was 'real' to me. There were not heros or villians just people. Real people, self centered and often cruel. But that is reality, it is not fluffy feel good piece about someone's collaged days.

Postive: 1. Tatianna Maslany of "Orphan Black" fame was listed in Special Thanks credits. However, some Hunger Games Mockingjay (appropriately) personnel were also listed which then qualifies there contribution to go over to the negative side of the ledger. Negatives: 1. No subtitles, in fact, no menu options which typically indicates cheap, cheap, cheap. This also indicates that getting the message (dialogue) across didn't matter. Made worse w/hyper-speed rote recitation of lines which made what acting there was seem contrived. Enunciation & audio levels were not great either. Feel bad for those w/hearing issues. 2. Storyline was about college ghost writing of papers for ss. And, not coincidentally, the script for this movie (excuse me - film) seemed like one of those ghost written papers for a film class - it was so shallow. 3. Activities by characters seemed self-centered which matches the script - a script that N.Y.'ers would relish.

The Paper Store is a rare look at academia in America. Narrator Stef Dawson, Annalee, is the smart ex student selling her ability to write college papers. Penn Badgley, Sigurd, hires her to write his entire 516 class so he can focus on his thesis. He doubles her price, and she takes on the course. And him. Both rattle on with film jargon non stop very lighthearted and not too insufferable. Both characters are unlikable, yet very realistic in ther sex and money problems. The narration is unreliable. The squabble over credit hours is spot on. Exploitation, manipulation, and education are topics covered in the rapid dialogue like foreplay. Richard Kind, Professor Marty Kane, let's the truth come out that student don't matter. He can't afford to have his TA bring C students up to A students. He would be let go. He has to have tenure at any price. David Cronenberg, The Simpsons, and Little Trees are brought up so if you want to enjoy this film brush up on some film studies' topics. The Paper Store is based on the play 516 by Katharine Clark Gray. She and her husband, Michael Gray, wrote the screenplay.

source: The Paper Store

This film is as exciting as watching paint dry. I would rather have watched a science review of dung beetle mating. The film has no value, the cinematic release of the Flintstones Movie has more theatrical value.