MovieChat Forums > Paper Moon (1973) Discussion > Underrated Masterpiece

Underrated Masterpiece


After being thoroughly disappointed with a few prescribed classics I've seen recently, I was finally able to watch Paper Moon. To be absolutely honest I was expecting the film to slump to kitschy, sentimental mediocrity. Boy was I wrong, not once was I bored. It was enthralling, realistic and could have so easily slipped up and become contrived and normal, but it didn't. Bogdanovich handled everything masterfully, and I shudder to think what someone like Spielberg would have done with the production. Anyway, I hope this classic gets more attention, it's such a wonderful little gem.

"Thirteen inches is a tough load, I don't treat you gently." - Dirk Diggler, Boogie Nights

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Please don't say On the Waterfront was boring. It is truly a masterpiece. I grew to dislike Brando in his later years for his bohemian lifestyle and for screwing up his kids but Waterfront proved he was an A #1 actor. The ending of Waterfront proves anyone can be a winner.

Paper Moon is tops too in my book.

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Well, all it needs is more exposure. It only has 2,500 votes, which is basically nothing on IMDB. So I'm sure that once more people start voting, the average will deservedly increase.

"Thirteen inches is a tough load, I don't treat you gently." - Dirk Diggler, Boogie Nights

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So glad to see that you and others have discovered this little gem. It's a wonderful little movie.

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Paper Moon is one of the greatest films ever made. I saw it recently for the first time and found it to be a fantastic little film.

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I rented this from the library and was so happy I got to see it. Since then it has become one of my favortie movies. I even tracked down the book addie pray because I needed more than just the movie.

"I'm out Jerry, And I'm loving every minute of it !"

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<Bogdanovich handled everything masterfully, and I shudder to think what someone like Spielberg would have done with the production.>

You mean like casting Dakota Fanning in the role of Addie?! <<shivers>>


"No wonder we often know how to make a watch, but we don't know the time of day." -- H.P. Walker

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Yeah, and casting Johnny Depp in the role of Moze

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I agree. This is one of my favorites. I think it deserves much more praise.

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With a "weighted" imdb user rating of 8.0/10, I would hardly call Paper Moon underrated. If anything, it's slightly overrated. There are many excellent movies that don't reach the 8.0 plateau. While Paper Moon is sweet, funny, and enteraining, I can't give it 4/5 stars .... maybe 3, 3 1/2 stars tops.

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Your comment only is useful if you mention what movies you would place above it in your ratings.

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I agree! :D I stumbled upon this movie about fifteen minutes into it, and I couldn't look away! I fell in love with it, and very nearly shed a tear at the end. I love this movie to death now...I'm so glad I found it. :D

"Don't you dare throw your ring at me. That's so *beep* cliché, I swear I'll *beep* barf!"

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I agree with every post on how lovely the film is. And before learning that it was part of the plot in the book, I always thought that it was ironic and sort of an in joke that moze could possibly be addie's father, and ryan was tatum's in real life. And as for a remake, I would just *beep* die if they ruined this cult classic. But if they did, I could see abigail breslin in the role of addie. Dakota is too old.

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I think Paper Moon may end up being my favorite movie of all-time; I feel like I was destined to see it and may have some kind of connection(s) to it. For instance, I was an over-the-road truck driver but asked to be put on a dedicated run, which would get me home more, because I was ready to quit OTR; I'd had it. I was obliged with a run that picked up batteries for GM in, none other than, St. Joseph, MO. In fact, it didn't even dawn on me until near the end of my time on that run, and possibly, not until after I was replaced, resulting in my resignation from truck driving; so, I didn't get to do much exploring in St. Joe, or asking the people there about Paper Moon, though I realize it was filmed at other locations.

I can't remember exactly when I first saw it, but I know it was on TV and probably in the late 70's when I was around 10. I loved it so much then (even though I can remember thinking, "Addie seems TOO smart; how can she be that smart when I was about her age or older at the time?" Yes, I was a fairly dense kid, that's how!). It didn't matter, she was so adorable ("I want my 200 dollars!"). The story just made me feel like I was there, and ever since, every time I've watched it, it's actually felt like it's summer, no matter what the temperature really is, outside; no other movie gives me that feeling. In 1990 or so, I bought it on VHS (of course, I love the DVD), & over the years, I've introduced it to several friends & girlfriends, who all seemed to like it (I don't think I've ever met anyone who said that they didn't like this movie). Intentionally, I don't re-watch movies very often, especially my favorites, though I have seen this quite a few times, because I like to get the feeling that I'm watching it for the first time, which doesn't always happen with every movie, of course, when you re-watch them; yet, with Paper Moon, it seems like it does--every time. Underrated masterpiece-exactly!

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It is a gem of a movie, one of the best ever. I just have to agree.

Watching it was like being in a dual time-warp. The viewer is either transported back to the Depression years as if he were there or it seems these characters have traveled to our era to make a perfect little tale. It was almost as if Paper Moon was the perfect, quintessential 30s movie, but made a few decades too late ...

Anybody who does not love this movie must be a complete Grinch ... ha ha ha

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I totally agree... one of my all-time favorite movies. I like to cue this up in my playlist following Grapes of Wrath, another great movie set in the Depression era but more depressing and sad than Paper Moon.

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