Paper Moon

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: May 9, 1973

DVD Release Date: August 12, 2003

Plot 411: A con artist offers to take an orphan to her relatives in another state and use her as part of his con, but she's smarter than he thinks and is soon conning like the best of them.

Review: Prior to watching this film, I only knew that Tatum O'Neal was the youngest person to win an Oscar. I was happily surprised that the movie was in black and white, even though it was made in the 70s. Somehow black and whites always seem to be way better than today's movies. Maybe it's because they lack all the CGI and actors must actually be good at their craft? In any case, despite the fact that this was Tatum's first film, she was great. Her character was a smart kid, wise beyond her years, and it really came through in Tatum's performance. She definitely deserved the award. I also enjoyed her relationship with her dad in this role. Even with his ornery behavior, he was still endearing somehow. And man, I've gotta say Ryan O'Neal was pretty good looking back in the day, wasn't he? I mean, before this movie I could only picture the 2008 mugshot when he got busted for meth with his son. Not so handsome in that one.

Watch It: To see some really good acting, a good deal of humor and very long shots without cuts.

Skip It: If you can't get past the fact that Tatum is really a girl. Yes, they wore their hair like that back in the 70s as well as in the 30s apparently.

Trailer: