Paper Moon (1973) - 1/29/2024

A con you can only get away with in the midwest

I can’t think of much to say about Paper Moon and its very straightforward plot. Con man Moses (Ryan O’Neal) becomes shackled to Addie (Tatum O’Neal) - who may or may not be his daughter - to deliver Addie to her aunt’s house after the passing of her mother. Obviously the journey is not as linear as that, as Moses zigs and zags all over Kansas, taking money from old widows and hicks alike, en route to the two becoming friends over this strange trip. This plot probably would not be able to happen when this film was made in the early 70s, which is why it takes place during the Great Depression - less access to information, everyone is just hustling to make a dollar. But another part of the cons' success is due in part to the very isolated locations in the midwest. As long as you’re white, everyone is generally going to be very trusting of any seemingly well-meaning stranger coming up to their door to deliver them a bible from their dead spouse, and especially if that person has a young daughter in tow. The midwest sensibility lends itself to the mischievousness of Moses and Addie’s success, and the conniving plots between the two of them allow their relationship to grow strong.