TNL Movie Club: Paper Moon

**Doc Holliday** · 23 Jul 2012, 04:05 PM

“I don’t want you smoking in the car tomorrow…”

“What?!”

In 1973, Peter Bogdanovich directed his fifth film, a profound melodrama set in America’s toughest time, a time we are unfortunately reminded of each day in another election cycle of hyperbole. Depression or not, big or small, the country up or down, drama happens not in the abstract reaches of macro-society, but between the communication of just two people and the moment it’s broken.

That’s what happens here, when an irresponsible man faces an impasse of responsibility on a choice he made. Whether Addy is his or not doesn’t matter. It’s how he handles it that matters. And that’s what makes this film a hold out on hope for the human race -- not the country or all of society, but just two people making the best out of a bad situation. This is an old film about an older time, but for that reason, I feel it still resonates today. It’s a small film, but one worth a quiet time on a weeknight.

“I didn’t say nothing; I’m just listening to you.”