Lee Daniels's follow-up to 2009's Precious follows a journalist (Matthew McConaughey) investigating the case of a death row inmate (John Cusack) accused of a crime he didn't commit.
© PA Images / Lionel Cironneau/AP
Efron plays McConaughey's naive younger brother who becomes involved in the case, and specifically with the inmate's pen-pal fiancée (Nicole Kidman).
The controversial drama debuted at the Cannes Film Festival this morning (May 24) to mixed reviews.
"You know, I don't think I was supposed to feel comfortable," Efron mused during the film's post-screening press conference. "I think it's like life.
"The character is learning the ways of the world, and that can be very, very uncomfortable. But I think it's also exciting, it's new. He doesn't really know what to expect."
Cusack also spoke about his casting, explaining that he relished his character's total lack of sweetness.
"I was thrilled," he said. "I felt like I'd been let out of some cage."
He went on to explain that Daniels had offered him the role after seeing his performance in 1990 neo-noir The Grifters.
"He was saying to me, 'I know you've got more to give than you've been given lately'," Cusack explained of his meeting with Daniels, "and you know, that's sort of music to an actor's ears."
Watch a preview clip of The Paperboy below:
