Beyond Zac Efron’s tight white briefs

The Paperboy is 'a dark, twisted journey'

The Paperboy, an erotic thriller starring Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, Macy Gray and Matthew McConaughey, is set to hit theatres across North America this weekend.

The film received a lengthy standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival and is directed by the openly gay Lee Daniels, who also directed Precious.

The film includes a substantial gay sub-plot and has lots of shots of Zac Efron in his tiny white briefs. But beyond this eye-candy, the film is a serious look at the early days of the civil rights movement. It touches on race and sex in the 1960s.

It was a “dark and twisted journey,” Efron says.

“I really enjoy that it’s a polarizing film — that people really love it and get it or some people just want to go home and take a shower afterwards,” he says.

Below is an interview with Lee Daniels on the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film opens in Canada on Oct 19.

On occasion, the number of editors and other staff who contribute to a story gets a little unwieldy to give a byline to everyone. That’s when we use “Xtra Staff” in place of the usual contributor info. If you would like more information on who contributed to a particular story, please contact us here.

Read More About:
TV & Film, Video, Culture, Arts, Canada

Keep Reading

Two photos by gay photographer Duane Michals, who passed in June of 2026

Remembering Duane Michals, the legendary gay photographer

The late gay artist redefined what was possible in fine art photography

New study finds Canadian trans youth rarely detransition

A group of Canadian researchers found that 97 percent of youth who seek treatment for gender dysphoria still identify as trans years later
Two photos from the Toronto bathhouse riots of 1971

The bleak history of the Toronto bathhouse raids

In 1981, Toronto police arrested nearly 300 gay men as part of a six-month undercover operation called “Operation Soap”
Two pride stamps from Canada Post highlighting The Turret nightclub and the 519 community center.

Canada Post just debuted four new stamps honouring queer historic sites

Places of Pride features four new postage stamps commemorating places and events that are pivotal to the country's queer history
Advertisement