Paper Moon (1973)
When you win an Oscar at 10 years old.
Presentation:
There were a lot of great films in 1973, but I think Paper Moon might actually be my favorite. This may be one of my favorite duos in cinema, favorite road trips and is a caper that ranks up there. Normally with the unlikely duo narrative, it takes half the movie to establish a bond I will connect with. I was able to fall in love with these two in less than 15 minutes. The precocious child is a complete fleshed out character that reminds me of Natalie Portman in Leon: The Professional - though I think that performance is still goated. Tatum O’Neal goes toe-to-toe and her chemistry with Ryan O’Neal is fully believable because as the names suggest, they are an actual father and daughter duo. This revelation becomes a little judgmental once you see the contents of the film, but boy does it make for an entertaining ride. Tatum is spectacular and it is no wonder she becomes the youngest to ever win an Oscar in a competitive category. She serves as a vessel to pass some societal moral judgment, and it’s really quite something to behold. The cinematography and monochrome are wonderful with surprising dashes of heart, humor and action sprinkled in.
Conclusion:
A relatively unknown gem, if you liked Leon: The Professional, you should really love this one. I don’t know if this film is greater, but considering it came out in 1973 it will undoubtedly retain its legacy as a timeless classic. The unconventional dynamic here is funny, magnetic and memorable, making it extremely watchable in 2025. This is surely a genre defining film future road trip duo films copied off of, making it a wonder why it isn’t more popular. It’s always a pleasure to recommend great cinema that isn’t solely about serious themes, depth or doom and gloom. Entertaining from start to finish, comedic capers can absolutely be cinema.
Recommendations
When you win an Oscar at 10 years old.