Paper Moon
Paper Moon is filled with so much charm and undeniable chemistry from real life father and daughter actors that it hides some of the real and depressing nature of this film.
This being the first Peter Bogdanovich film I've seen, I have to say I am impressed. His black and white style here feel completely real and authentic to the time and brings the world of the 1930's struggling America back to life. The dynamic between Moze and Attie is the whole heart of this movie and I can't help but root for them the whole time even whenever they're scamming people along their way, it's just fun watching the two play off of each other.
This has easily one of my favorite performances by a child actor here, it doesn't take Attie long for her to realize that her and Moze are business partners and that their game is two sides of the same coin. Even though she is nine years old, Moze's ability to be so levelheaded with Attie about everything along the way, whether that's life and how the real world works or just giving her a much needed lesson, it's all really good and entertaining. The hardships and struggles are there and they're pretty evident, dealing with loss, struggling to come up with money, sleeping on the floor, and the image of a child ripping cigarettes isn't funny or amusing, in fact it's very depressing.
Though it is sad in those ways, I loved that the comedy is a big factor here and done rightfully so with witty lines that only a father and daughter could reenact with each other. Their both realizations by the end coming together and understanding the need for each other I thought was well earned, well made, and the only logical and fitting decision that could've been made.