‘Paper Moon’ Criterion Collection 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – A Brilliant Tale Of Crime And Found Family

Maverick director Peter Bogdanovich affectionately recreates the world of the 1930s Dust Bowl in this beloved, briskly entertaining chronicle of one of cinema’s unlikeliest crime sprees. Real-life father and daughter Ryan and Tatum O’Neal (who became the youngest-ever Oscar winner for her spark-plug performance) play off each other with almost musical agility as a Bible-hawking con man and the precocious, recently orphaned tomboy who falls into his care—and soon rivals her newfound father figure’s skill as a swindler. With period-perfect detail, glowing monochrome imagery by cinematographer László Kovács, and a memorable supporting cast (including the inimitable Madeline Kahn), Paper Moon is a witty, loving portrait of two natural-born hustlers on a road trip through Depression-era America.

For thoughts on Paper Moon, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: 

Video Quality

The Criterion Collection presents Paper Moon on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in Peter Bogdanovich’s preferred aspect ratio of 1.66:1 courtesy of a wonderful new 4K master created from the 35mm Original Camera Negative in 2160p with Dolby Vision/HDR. This presentation serves as a solid uptick from the included Blu-Ray derived from the same restoration. This release is all the more welcome considering there was not even a Blu-Ray release in North America prior to this. This 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc impresses right away with the perfect amount of natural film grain which is appropriately gritty but not noisy or unwieldy. This allows the presentation to excel with a world of texture in the locales, costumes, and production design. The cinematography from László Kovács is impeccable as he creates a three-dimensional image that uses the sprawling lands perfectly to highlight the depth at play.

The UHD disc maintains a faithful black-and-white palette that is unyielding thanks to the utilization of Dolby Vision for an exceptional interplay between light and dark. The command over contrast and overall clarity are a joy to witness. Black levels are deep and allow the picture to retain a favorable amount of depth and detail in shadowy spaces. Highlights are richer and offer greater stability without veering into blooming. The clarity of the transfer gives you a notable amount of facial detail. There is no sign of any print damage or other such blemishes that would upset the appearance of this title. This transfer is what fans have been waiting for all of these years. The Criterion Collection has served up a classic of the highest order. 

Audio Quality

The Criterion Collection brings us this new 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a remastered LPCM 1.0 track that offers a robust audio experience. Dialogue holds up distinctly, coming through clearly without being trounced by the music or other natural effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely including the chatter within the public spaces the duo explores and the noises from vehicles. The vintage soundtrack of the film comes through with the appropriate fidelity that represents the material best narratively. The track does not present any unexpected instances of age-related wear and tear. The Criterion Collection has delivered an audio experience that holds up with the best of them. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Paper Moon includes a foldout pamphlet featuring the essay “Partners In Crime” by author Mark Harris which explores the legacy of the feature, the source material, its themes, the background of the creative figures, and more that are very illuminating. There is also a replica of the photograph with Addie on the paper moon. The on-disc special features are as follows: 

• Audio Commentary: Director Peter Bogdanovich provides a commentary track recorded in 2003 in which the filmmaker delves into the production in great detail including the background anecdotes of shooting various scenes, the changes from the script, the decision to shoot in black and white, the camera setups, the production design, and more. Aspiring filmmakers could listen to this track and get a ton of great information straight from a master.

• Introduction by Peter Bogdanovich: A nine-minute introduction from 1989 in which the filmmaker discusses the process of directing and his work on Paper Moon. 

• “Keep Your Sunny Side Up” – The Ballad of Addie and Moze: A new 26-minute visual essay from Bogdanovich biographer Peter Tonguette that explores the dynamic between the two lead characters, the melancholy conjured by the black-and-white photography, the motifs, and more. 

• The Making of Paper Moon:  A trio of featurettes that give an overview of the development, production, and release of the film through interviews with Bogdanovich, production designer Polly Platt, associate producer Frank Marshall, and cinematographer László Kovács.

• • The Next Picture Show (14:07)

• • Asking For The Moon (16:32)

• • Getting The Moon (4:18)

• Polly Platt: An 18-minute discussion with the production designer and Bogdanovich’s ex-wife recorded in 2002 in which she reveals great details about the making of the picture.

• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: A nearly 12-minute excerpt from a talk show appearance with Bogdanovich and actors Ryan and Tatum O’Neal. 

• Location Scouting: A nearly 17-minute look at the original location scouting footage shot by Polly Platt with commentary from associate producer Frank Marshall.

• Trailer (3:56)

Final Thoughts

Paper Moon is a major highlight in the career of legendary filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich with this assured tale of connection, redemption, and fear of the unknown. Tatum O’Neal delivers a captivating performance well beyond what is expected from a performer of her age and experience. The narrative is very sweet yet not saccharine in its execution. You come to love these characters and all of their faults, the product of an unbelievably crafted script. This can proudly be held up as one of the great films of the ‘70s. The Criterion Collection has delivered a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray that offers a 5-star A/V presentation and some top-notch special features. If you are a fan, the film has been treated with the proper respect. Highly Recommended 

The Criterion Collection edition of Paper Moon is now available to purchase on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: The Criterion Collection has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.