I am living through the Summer of the Con. Previously I recommended "The Sting" and "The Brothers Bloom." Well, I discovered another great film that falls into this select category. This past weekend I found a film that transcends the genre, yet it keeps the same characteristics of the others. Wit. Charm. Theft. Deception. Relationships. The same words I have used for the previous films, I now tag onto this 1973 Oscar winning film "Paper Moon."
"Paper Moon" is a little-known film to this collegiate generation. I had never heard of it before hearing interviews and reviews for "The Brothers Bloom," but when asking adults about it, they had all heard of it and even seen it in theaters. I wish I could go back and see this film in theaters for the joy of classic cinema.
During the Great Depression, a con man, Moses Pray, picks up an orphaned girl, Addie Loggins, with the intention of taking her home to Missouri. Addie witnesses Moses' con scheme of selling personalized Bibles to widows in Midwestern towns, and she joins him for the great con road trip of her life. Along the way they forge an unlikely father-daughter relationship and meet hilarious supporting characters.
The main actors are real life father-daughter team Ryan and Tatum O'Neal, and that relationship drives this film. "Paper Moon" isn't a con film at heart. The story is about these two characters: one who is a smart aleck brat of a girl, the other a self-centered scam of a man. They never seem to completely get along, but that's not the point. It's about them learning to live with each other and subtly accepting that they work well together to extort hundreds of dollars from ailing widows.
The acting is incredible in "Paper Moon." Tatum O'Neal became the youngest actor or actress to ever win a competition Oscar for her supporting role as Addie. Ryan O'Neal is equally as stubborn and witty in his role and has some of the funniest bits I have seen on-screen. He also teaches many lessons on how to con everyday people.
One other actor who does a great job in a two-bit part is Randy Quaid. He plays a farm boy who Moses wrestles for a car. It is a small role, but I was surprised to see an actor who I recognized from the "Vacation" movies in this classic gem.
Films aren't made like this one anymore as well. The most impressive thing I saw within "Paper Moon" was single shots that lasted a whole scene. The turning point of the first act - the time in which the characters can no longer return to who they were when the film began, also the time in which an incident launches them on the adventure - occurs with an argument on a long car ride. The shot lasts at least five minutes and it is one continuous take. This single shot apparently took more than 30 takes to get right during filming because little Tatum couldn't remember all of her lines. It is this scene though that probably garnered her the Oscar because it demonstrates how talented she was, rather than relying on fancy camera moves or fast cuts.
You always have to respect the classics, and even though this is black and white, it is character driven with sharp dialogue that resonates to this day.
Maybe you want to saunter down to the cinema this weekend, and check out another period piece. I recommend "Public Enemies" which charts the adventures of John Dillinger. Johnny Depp stars as Dillinger and he looks spot on perfect for the role. I only hope the director Michael Mann hasn't messed up another great story, like he did with "Miami Vice." "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" also opens, but I still think "Public Enemies" is the one that will be worth the ticket price.
If those don't seem inviting, always e-mail me for any recommendations or search out a film that you have been meaning to view. Until next weeks exciting entry, get busy livin' or get busy dyin'.
Alex Kartman is a junior telecommunications major and writes 'Scene Selection' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Alex at ajkartman@bsu.edu
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