Paper Moon
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Movie Reviews of Paper Moon
Movie Review: Enchanting Story of 9-Year-Old Con Artist in 1930's
Summary: 5 Stars
Tatum O'Neal became the youngest Oscar winner in history for her scene-grabbing role as Addie Pray, a whipsmart, adorable, 9-year-old grifter in the 1930's dustbowl/Depression era. The heartwarming, genuinely moving film is based on an equally terrific book by Joe David Brown, "Addie Pray." When Moses Pray (Ryan O'Neal, Tatum's father) inherits young Addie at a funeral and then fritters away her $200, she loudly demands repayment over Coney Islands and Nehis in a drugstore, forcing him to grudgingly take her along on his Bible-selling grifts across Kansas. The pair take off on the winding roads in Moses' jalopy, Addie keeping careful track of their "take" in her cigar box (repayment of the $200 debt) and Moses shortly discovers that the child's grit, tenacity and shrewdness, mixed with apple pie cuteness, make her an invaluable partner. There's also just a chance that Moses might be Addie's "pa," given that, according to her, they "have the same jaw."
Along with Tatum's heart-rending performance, there is gorgeous black and white cinematography that really captures the era hauntingly and great 1930's tunes like the titular "Paper Moon." Tatum O'Neal -- feisty, precocious, and touching -- is unforgettable, whether dancing alone in the bathroom with her mother's pearls or getting Moses out of a jam.
The wonderful Madeleine Kahn also appears as Trixie Delight, a hoochy dancer that Moses picks up along the way.
A treat.
Movie Review: Depression era grifting
Summary: 5 Stars
Producer and director Peter Bogdanovich created a visually stunning panorama of sprawling Midwestern landscapes with some marvelous black and white cinematography in his excellent comedic drama "Paper Moon". The inseparable tandem of Ryan and Tatum O'Neal were naturals as the scam artist team traveling the backroads of Depression era Kansas. Nine year old Tatum O'Neal was particularly outstanding in her role as Addie Loggins, paving uncharted waters as the youngest ever recipient of an Academy Award.
In a benevolent moment, Ryan O'Neal, playing Moses Pray, a small time con man offered to transport the recently orphaned Addie to her aunt's house in St. Joseph, Missouri. Along the way Pray discovers that Addie's skills in the con game surpass his own. They commence successfully working as a team bilking suckers along the way to St. Joe. They encounter a colorful cast of characters along the way, most notably Madeline Kahn playing dancer/hooker Trixie Delight. Mose rescues her from a carnival and she begins travelling with them. She soon begins to compete with Addie for Mose's attention. In a wittily conceived scene Addie cooks up a scheme to make Mose dump Ms. Delight.
Bogdanovich does an exemplary job in capturing the somber and naive mood of Midwestern America in the mid-30's. He skillfully guides his characters across this landscape, allowing them to create minor mayhem along the way.
Movie Review: A small, subtle slice of old-fashioned film making
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember seeing "Paper Moon" when it was first released. I was eleven at the time, and developed a crush on little Tatum O'Neal! The film had director Peter Bogdanavich's sweeping vision of the Depression era, but it was also an ideal vehicle for the father-daughter team of Ryan & Tatum. Relatives doing movies together can be a tricky thing--you're never sure if there's going to be great chemistry on screen. Lucky for us, the chemistry here is terrific (it was good enough to earn first-timer Tatum an Oscar win). The late, great Madeline Kahn even wanders in halfway through the film as exotic dancer Trixie Delight, bringing some funny moments with a slight touch of pathos in her characterization (and earning her a nomination as well).
Shot on location in & around Kansas/Missouri, Bogdanavich's black & white visual look perfectly captures the wide-open isolation of the nation's countryside, decades before buildings & shopping centers cluttered up the land. Attention to authenticity is apparent in every frame, from the dirt roads, vintage cars & weathered buildings to the old radio broadcasts, right down to Addie's "Cremo" box.
It's a small, subtle gem of a picture, a blend of comedy, drama & visual style.
Movie Review: Paper Moon is the Real Thing
Summary: 5 Stars
Adapted from Joe David Brown's Addie Pray, Paper Moon is the story of grifter Moses Pray, who offers to take orphaned Addie Loggins to her aunt for the express purpose of squeezing some money out of the man responsible for the death of her mother. But Addie is no sweet little child; she's a pragmatist who overhears the money deal and wants the bucks for herself. So Addie and Moze travel the prairie (changed from the Alabama of the novel) in a story filmed in gritty black and white, buncoing innocent shopgirls and making their living. A particularly humorous interlude comes when Moze is captivated by a hoochie-coochie dancer, played con brio by the marvelous Madeline Kahn and offers her and her maid a ride. Addie and "Trixie Delight's" maid Imogene bring the interlude to a satisfying conclusion.
The only trouble with Paper Moon was that they never filmed the second half of the book; I think O'Neal and O'Neal could have done it justice (but I'm glad they didn't do it if they were going to cast Mae West--ugh!--as Amelia Sass). If you like the movie, read the book--it's excellent; a lot more details of Addie and Moze's escapades!
Movie Review: Blood thicker than Water
Summary: 5 Stars
Bognonavich was a bit of a darling and at the height of his popularity and power when this modest script presented. Dipped but not saturated in the look of older films, the director evokes the Depression years, Grapes of wrath mid 30s as a homage to Steinbeck, Ford and sundry giants of that era. This is a s perfect a film as Bogdonavich made, though it didn't claim the critical kudos of, 'What's Up Doc?', and the brilliant,'Last Picture Show'. Most of the cast from these two gems, moved with him on this project; a kind of ensemble acting crew that facilitated very warm acting results. But the massive star amongst the lot was the novice, Tatum O'Neil. It is a role for which she received just rewards and will take your heart any which way. She's a tough, shrewd, brilliant survivor (at least at this stage of her celluloid life). I've rarely been transfixed by a child performance of this magnitude. The look of the film is enthralling; wide-angled lens giving sharpness of detail and wonderful depth of field. The black and white print immediately yields an archival feel, and the texture of those wonderful photos of dustbowl hard times.