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Paper Moon

Paper Moon

Comedy · Crime · Drama · 1973

During the Great Depression, a con man finds himself saddled with a young girl who may or may not be his daughter, and the two forge an unlikely partnership.

Movie details

Paper Moon

“As P.T. Barnum put it, "There's a sucker born every minute."”

1973 Comedy · Crime · Drama 1h 42m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.9 / 10

Community rating

During the Great Depression, a con man finds himself saddled with a young girl who may or may not be his daughter, and the two forge an unlikely partnership.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Paper Moon?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Comedy · 2023

When her family moves from New York City to New Jersey, an 11-year-old girl navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence.

Bernie

Bernie

Comedy · 2012

In small-town Texas, affable and popular mortician Bernie Tiede strikes up a friendship with Marjorie Nugent, a wealthy widow well known for her sour attitude. When she becomes controlling and abusive, Bernie goes to great lengths to remove himself from her grasp.

Matchstick Men

Matchstick Men

Comedy · 2003

A phobic con artist and his protege are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the con artist's teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly.

Death at a Funeral

Death at a Funeral

Comedy · 2007

A myriad of outrageous calamities befalls an eccentric English clan with more than a few skeletons in its closets when the family's patriarch dies an unexpected death.

The Old Man & the Gun

The Old Man & the Gun

Comedy · 2018

The true story of Forrest Tucker, from his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 to an unprecedented string of heists that confounded authorities and enchanted the public. Wrapped up in the pursuit are a detective, who becomes captivated with Forrest’s commitment to his craft, and a woman, who loves him in spite of his chosen profession.

The Ladykillers

The Ladykillers

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Five oddball criminals planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians.

Things Change

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Comedy · 1988

Jerry, a misfit Mafia henchman, is assigned the low-level job of keeping an eye on Gino, a shoe repairman fingered by the Mob to confess to a murder he didn't commit. But Gino's mistaken for a Mafia boss, and the two are suddenly catapulted to the highest levels of mobster status. Only friendship will see them through this dangerous adventure alive!

The Reivers

The Reivers

Comedy · 1969

In turn-of-the-century Mississippi, an 11-year-old boy comes of age as two mischievous adult friends talk him into sneaking the family car out for a trip to Memphis and a series of adventures.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Peter Bogdanovich

Written by

Alvin Sargent

Tatum O'Neal

Tatum O'Neal

Addie Loggins

Ryan O'Neal

Ryan O'Neal

Moses Pray

Madeline Kahn

Madeline Kahn

Trixie Delight

John Hillerman

John Hillerman

Deputy Hardin / Jess Hardin

Jessie Lee Fulton

Jessie Lee Fulton

Miss Ollie

Noble Willingham

Noble Willingham

Mr. Robertson

Randy Quaid

Randy Quaid

Leroy

Court is in session

Put Paper Moon on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.