May 14, 1973 [Paper Moon]
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The O’Neals move through the black and white Depression just like actors in a Depression-era film, their voices taking on the same cadences, the same slightly self-conscious tilt of actors playing “low”--and this is what I love best about Paper Moon, its desire to be a movie, to roll out those barren Plains like Steinbeck daydreams, like a Warner Bros. reminiscence of the 1930s. Addie’s stubborn affection for Franklin D. and Mose’s silly mustache conspire like Wild Boys of the Road to put on a show--a series of shows, really, little con games we love to watch, like card tricks--and we are willing to be fooled, it’s so much fun, this loving pretense of theirs. Of course “it’s only a paper moon,” as phony as Mose’s snap-on gold tooth; that’s the feature, kiddo.
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