 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Paper Moon
- Review Date: July 24, 2007
- PG
- Genre: Drama
- 1973
Common Sense Media says
Tatum O'Neal's smoke- and booze-filled caper.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that even though this movie stars a 10-year-old Tatum O'Neal, there's plenty of drinking, smoking (even by Tatum's Addie), and corruption on display. The movie actually starts with Addie's mother's funeral. Some scenes are thematically intense, especially when Ryan O'Neal's character Moze is chased down by corrupt policemen and beaten. Characters are also dragged into the police station for selling stolen bootleg liquor.
What's the story?
Buddy movies are great fun, and so are caper flicks -- movies where you get to live out a fantasy of not being good; of in fact being really, really bad. For some viewers, PAPER MOON will be the ultimate bad-girl escape film: full of road trips, car chases, money, tricks, and general hijinx. Tatum O'Neal stars in her Oscar-winning role as Addie Loggins, a little girl whose mother has just died and is suddenly thrust into the care of Moze (Tatum's dad, Ryan O'Neal), a traveling conman whom Addie is convinced is her real father because they have the same chin. While Moze denies it, he does take little Addie under his wing, teaching her to con widows out of money, steal liquor, and generally live a depraved but fun life.
Is it any good?
If kids can get past the black-and-white screening created by director Peter Bogdanovich, they may love the pleasure Addie takes in tricking people. And she may have won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar, but she's certainly the star of the film. You can thank the writing for that.
Addie, as a street-wise orphan, is smarter, sneakier, and more conniving than her foil of a father figure. As Moze dumbly tryies to get the same $7 out of every widow for a "deluxe edition Bible," Addie adjusts prices based on a customer's financial status and earns them more money. When she feels abandoned by Moze for taking a lover, the "harem slave" Trixie (Madeline Kahn), Addie is sharp enough to know that Trixie is a prostitute and makes sure Moze catches her turning a trick. No doubt, Addie (cigarette dangling) lives in a very adult, criminal world, and it's why this movie is a much better choice for teens and up.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about life during the Great Depression. This film makes light of the desperation and dispair of life in the Great Depression, but perhaps now would be a good time to talk to kids about your own family's experience during the Great Depression. How were grandparents and great-grandparents affected by it? This film is a good opportunity to talk about what brought about the Great Depression and how many families made ends meet.
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AGE
terrible piece of trash
I thought this movie was a terrible piece of trash that portrays the worst kind of moral relativism. My problem isn't the language, drinking or smoking. I've practice plenty of all those things. My problem is with the glorification of lying, cheating and stealing. The co-stars are bilking widows out of money at a vulnerable time, and egging each on to con nice folks. Yes, the movie was beautifully filmed and the actors did a nice job. No, this movie is not for families, or anyone else who is interested in honesty, virtue or consideration of others.
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AGE
Normal viewing, not harmful to watch if you see it from a positive angle.
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AGE
A Great Representation of the Great Depression
I really, really love this movie! It is one of the most accurate representations of the thirties. There is quite a bit of smoking (including by a young girl) and drinking. One of the main characters is a con artist, and there is quite a bit of vulgar language, but nothing terrible. All in all, it's a great movie!
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AGE
Really funny and fun to watch!
funny! I really liked it! It was sooo funny but i was surprised a 9 year old was smoking frequently. They steel illegal alchohol and take advantage of people who are mourning. Woman is payed to have sex. The 9 year old says things like "s***house". I had a hard time figuring out the money cons haha math during summer! Not violent really. Despite the Black and White, It's great! So don't let the colorless camerawork make your kids not want to see it. They will enjoy it.
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| Topics: | friendship |
| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Peter Bogdanovich |
| Cast: | Madeline Kahn, Ryan O'Neal, Tatum O'Neal |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 102 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 24, 1973 |
| DVD release date: | August 12, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
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