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Pervert Park (2014)
"Salem's Lot 2015"
Lock your Doors.. hide the Kids?
"I screened this Film as part the 2015 Florida Film Festival." The State of Florida has decided that all Sex Violent Predators as well as Offenders be lumped together and to dump them off into places such as the subject of this Film "Pervert Park".
My overview here is based on what is happening in my own County (Orange) where there are 1000 homeless and many Registered Offenders with no place to live.
Pervert Park focus's is in the reality of this Nationwide "Witchhunt". An entire Society of Humans that have been captured, many wrongly accused and are being led to the Stake. This is the only Film that has had the guts to not only look at the nature of Sexual Crimes against Children but also the lower tiered Non Violent Crimes that put Offenders on Registrations for Life as well.
At the end credits when several audience members stood up and clapped, I did not know if they were applauding the Film and its content or wanted themselves to take justice in their own hands to bestow violence against the Sex Offenders.
Its shock value is everlasting! JEV 2015
The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
IDA - Behind Her Camera!
-The Hitch-Hiker (1953) by John Vizzusi
"Marking the 4th Major Motion Picture for Superstar Ida Lupino as a Director, she paved the way for Females in a Industry dominated by men!
Lupino also pens this strange and true tale of a serial killer on the loose. With a entire Male Cast, Ida sets forth on-loan by Warners to RKO, she shot the entire Picture on-location. Beginning to finish a breathtaking 71 minutes, Lupino comes in under-budget and several days early. Hollywood forgetful of its hugely successful past of Female Directors and Screenwriters such as the incredible Francis Marion (The Big House), Lupino is scorned upon and RKO acts like they are hiding from this production. A Limited Release does not help box office totals although the Movie does make its money back. She had a very slim budget of $400,000 and had to invent rotoscope camera movements for the Camera Automobile shots because of lack of equipment available. Surely influenced by the drama she herself displayed on the screen as the Star opposite Humphrey Bogart in "High Sierra" she Directs with complete confidence and a totally believable natural reality driven style and turns the killer Emmet Myers (William Talman) into one of the most vicious murderous monsters the screen had ever seen. But there is something else happening as well;
-Ida gives the film a sense of purpose and sensitivity even with all the madness going on throughout...
In an interview Talman recalled an incident that happened shortly after the release of The Hitch-Hiker (1953), in which he gave a chilling portrayal of escaped murderer and serial killer Emmett Meyers. He was driving his convertible in Los Angeles with the top down, and he stopped at a red light. Another driver in a convertible who was stopped next to him stared at him for a few seconds, then said, "You're the hitchhiker, right?" Talman nodded, indicating that he was. The other driver got out of his car, went over to Talman's car and slapped him across the face, then got back in his car and drove off. In recalling the story, Talman said, "You know, I never won an Academy Award but I guess that was about as close as I ever will come to one."
The Hitch-Hiker is instrumental is guiding the fantastic career of Ida Lupino whom was a beloved Star of the golden era of Hollywood's Silver Screen. And moved forward to Producing and Directing right into the golden age of Television. There was nothing Lupino could not do and do well.
Ida Lupino was the first woman to Direct Film Noir although the word Classic here may not totally apply to The Hitch-Hiker but for a Industry that today only employs a tragic 1% of Females we should look closer of the Film's that early Hollywood based Women Directed, Wrote and Produced.
You may be surprised at what you find!
Beware of Mr. Baker (2012)
Technically Great.. Lost in Translation!
"This Feature Doc is Technically speaking a Wonderful Film to watch." With 3D Animation and Stills, great Colorist Styling and a really great sound design. Its not a surprise that this Film has won several major awards so far. That's the good news. Now as far as being a true Biographical Film on the life so far of Ginger Baker, then we have to talk about a whole new ball game. There is mocking of the man here.. as in mockumentary so beware of that. Mr. Baker hosts his own narrative which is not always a good idea. But in this case, he himself qualifies his own life as a disastrous mess even without help from the Filmmaker. But the mess part needed to be broken down in a different way. This Doc in a awkward way makes fun of the man who's spiritual demons have controlled most of his life on and off the stage. I kept saying to myself, he is a man first then a drummer and the Filmmaker decided to turn that around on the audience. He said he would not talk about his x-wife so the Filmmaker did it anyway by interviewing her. He talked about things regarding other Musical Artist's in his life that he I'm speculating did not want in the Film.. the Filmmaker ignored him. So therefore, if you I suppose were afraid of Ginger Baker before, you are terrified of him now. Hence the title after the Filmmaker is clobbered in the nose by the cane of this once Rock icon. The shock value syndrome is high on the threshold of this being a real Documentary Film but becomes a terrible exploitation of a Drummer gone completely mad. I don't know which Ginger Baker, the madman, the drummer, the polo pony owner and everything else he tried really is and disappointment set in as the credits complete with outrageous outtakes role. 7stars mostly for the technical effort.
Sunset Strip (2012)
"Bad attempt at LA History!
"Fragmented Hell" "I have never started a Review with -Closing Credits, but I will do so here! An several minute animated sequence that runs for the Principal Closing Credits is much better done than the Movie I just screened. As a matter of fact, if this Filmmaker would stick to animation.. wonderful stuff.
But lets get on with it.. this Fragmented hell and Chronological nightmare is a big mess. You don't know what the date is anyone is referring to, switching in seconds from the 1960's to the 1980's and then its Today! And the testimonials don't help you get there either. The biggest problem is the management of the time periods discussed. There is plenty of content biased as it is. And most of that content I found to be very interesting. But the order everything is makes this film a one time event for me.
The Sunset Strip is much more than the History this Doc tells. I suppose one must think of George Hickenlooper's "Mayor of The Sunset Strip" to see one of the most thought provoking Docs on this subject. But this "Sunset Strip" does not even deserve to be named such a film. A handful of mostly has-been actors and burned out rock stars tell you their stories with lovely graphic details such as Blowjobs under the tables of the bars they preformed in. What I really hated is that this film glorified drugs, sex and rock & roll to the point of a comical display. "Only in America can woman be tortured by members of the Band Led Zepellin and dig it! Seeing Peter Fonda being thrown into a paddy wagon basically sums up that era.. and then there is Pryor and the cocaine jokes throughout the film which made me physically sick as if I was on a week long binge myself. I actually did not think I was watching real people any more but a facsimile or empty shell of people that once were actually artistic in their lives. When they were funny, I cried, and when they were serious.. I laughed out-loud. Is this really what the Filmmaker wanted?
"Sunset Strip" strips you of your own identity and throws in your face just how cool it was to be so stoned you could not even remember going to the gig let alone playing it! I was not surprised that every stoner and x-stoner you can think of came out for this show. It was a who's who of; "Wow, can't believe that guy is not dead! The stars of Sunset Strip are the buildings, the clubs and that horrible ugly Tower Records where deals were made in the parking lot. That, I won't take away from this Filmmaker.. which he Documents well. But the never-ending jump cuts and complete schizophrenic time-lapses was like a bad LSD Trip in the Editing Room.
I suppose this was one stoned out wrap party, but my first screening went straight to hell! JEV / CSPS-MEDIA
Blackfish (2013)
"Caged for Fun & Profit!
"Blackfish steers away from the History of so-called aquatic theme parks and centers in on one and only one subject, Killer Whales being taken from our oceans for the amusement of Humans." There is so much talk about this Feature Documentary Film being one-sided but how can it be biased when the filmmaker deals with the facts in the cases and issues at hand?
Seaworld and their current publicly owned Blackstone won't talk. So be it.. so lets look at the tragedies that unfolded and how can we the public, many investors ourselves can remedy this horrific situation.
The film details with the use of stock footage, location footage as well as police evidence tape a Killer Whale's psychosis caused by living in completely unnatural conditions for 25 years. I suppose Seaworld has made this animal their pet project feeling that they can tame anything into a performance. The truth is they are guilty of negligence leading to the death of their own employee's whom they title as Trainers.
X-Trainers within the film testify to the madness and inadequate training and lack of experience they had prior to diving into tanks filled with Killer Whales.
The film is heavy on Testimonials, lots of talking heads that make the story completely and utterly believable. There is no deception other on the part of the Company that continues to hold the rights to the captive Killer Whale. Upsetting is the candid documentation of how these precious mammals are taken from the oceans. The fact is that these folks are not marine research biologists, but hired hands to get their prey.
This film has the capability of setting new safeguards into place for the protection of Whales and most importantly new Theme Park laws that protect them from long-term abuse. Blackfish I believe has one goal and that is to help educate and reform animal rights global laws. This is a mighty job for a filmmaker to accomplish but with a wider release it will be seen. I wanted the Filmmaker to go after Seaworld and its investment Company. I wanted her to tell the story of other closed down parks such as Marineland in Florida. I wanted the defense to have their day in court. But since nobody from the other-side speaks, the subject never changes keying in on the Killer Whale in question sometimes called in the wild a "Blackfish". CSPS Media 2013
The Queen of Versailles (2012)
"American Greed"
"First off I would not call this Film a real Feature Doc." I would call it a very strong pilot for a Cable Reality Series. I left this screening completely empty and void of any strong feelings emotionally speaking. I know nothing more about the traditional Timeshare schemes that take place and that is what I was looking for with The Queen of Versailles. I wanted and wished for more employee interviews and testimonials from neighbors and friends.
This film does do a great job of taking you inside the lives of the Timeshare King and his so-called Queen but leaves you empty with everything else going on. When the Film came to Orlando where I live my local news interviewed the male subject of this film and he said he was sad, disappointed and would sue to have the film taken out of theaters.
First I thought this was a Miramax publicity stunt as long lines were forming at my Local Art House. But now after Screening the Film on CNBC (the Financial Cable Network of NBC) I see the disclaimer at the tail of the Film which states that it is basically Business as Usual and in other words "we as Filmmakers are sorry we made you look so bad! Now do you think this would ever happen with a Errol Morris, a Pennabaker or a Michael Moore Film? Its a disaster because you as a Doc Filmmaker has to apologize for just having spent months, years shootings these folks lives and now all of a sudden everything is hunky dorrie? I'm appalled at this disclaimer, it destroyed the entire context of the Film.
Well that eyesore is still unfinished and neighborhood protests have increased to have the mess torn down. The timeshare biz in Orlando is at a all time low and who would actually write a check to this joker especially after seeing the Film? I tend to believe some kind of deal outside of court was done here to please both parties. I pray the Filmmakers or Distributor did not have to pay them a cent.
"David states; "Everyone wants to be rich!
Underhandness by a scam artist with his poor wife caught in the middle. But she ain't so poor and with a mess of kids running wild whilst she buys out Wallmart, it makes interesting and entertaining Reality based mainstream high gloss HD Video.
But where are the therapists, where are the fired employees and where is someone to explain exactly how the scam works? Not in this Film. The Filmmaker decides along with more Producers in the History of a Film to take the safe road and make a killing at the box office in limited release of course.
So therefore before you go with the flow of all the rave reviews, be careful.
You are walking into a so-called Feature Doc that should be called a Reality TV Series Pilot.
Good luck on the next one... JV, Apopka FL.
Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck (2013)
"Most certainly Say Yes!
"Its difficult many times when the subject of a Feature Doc acts as the Host of the Film." They tend to get inside themselves more than often and sometimes does not paint a true picture of whom that person really is. In this case, the opposite applies.
Richard Zanuck is a emotional guy and lets it all hang out is this Bio Doc of the Studio Chief and Indie Producer and Filmmaker entire life and career. Starting with his father we get to see how it would be to grow up the son of the Head of one of Hollywood's largest and most successful Studios. But times become tough with the Studio System demise and Richard is brought in to give 20th Century Fox new control along with new management and a fresh start. He is responsible quickly with some of the biggest blockbusters. Such film's as The Longest Day and The Sting are under control of the young Zanuck and his father could not be more proud. But then after several hits, Richard decides to to go back to the basics and steps into the territory of big budget Musicals usually handled by cross town rival MGM. The flops happen as quickly as his initial successful Films and he is unbelievably out of a job.
Earlier in his life at Fox, thanks to his father he would learn the technical behind the camera below the line jobs and this on and off-set experience would help guide himself in the direction of a wonderful and lasting partnership with David Brown as a Producer. With every studio in town eying what's next for the Zanucks, he Produces a few low budget film's to get himself rolling and then comes JAWS! The film that saved Universal is a Film than Zanuck and Brown green-lighted and even with all the production problems pointed out so vividly by Spielberg in this film, worldwide Box office receipts made them all Stars and a ticket to do whatever they wanted for many years to come.
I wanted to know a little more about the man and his personal relationship with his father, his failed marriages are taken in jest as is his madman demeanor but again he is the one talking about himself the most in the Film. Many incites here from the likes of Johnny Depp to William Friedkin and Clint Eastwood along with Tim Burton really take us inside a a cut-throat business like never before.
This film is textbook on the History of going Indie in the 1970's and clearly Richard Zanuck paved the way for Filmmakers outside of the Studio System today attempting to secure financing and getting their projects made. He should be the mentor of what was then and what is now making their way through the Film Festival circuits. A total shock to all that he passed on only a few days after screening and endorsing this film.
There will never be another Richard D. Zanuck and I feel that everyone that sees this remarkable film will understand what I mean in the first sequence of events that unfold.
Outstanding accomplishment and congrats to all involved.
Family Band: The Cowsills Story (2011)
"The anti-Christ of all Bands!
"Growing up in the bay area with "Live" acid rock from the likes of Jefferson Airplane and Big Brother and The Holding Company and never listening to AM Radio, I suppose I missed all the hoopla on The Cowsills Story." But thanks to these wonderful Filmmakers, I got to see just how bad they were! There is no way you are going to convince this real flower child that the Cowsills made anything close to good music. The flaw in the doc is that they only talk to folks close to the band and the remaining band-members themselves. They forgot to talk to all of us that hated bands like this. The Cowsills, The Monkees.. my god, you can't get any worse! So now on with the review: The doc is great even though it hugs their awful music. Extremely candid and unobtrusive. America's Family gone to all hell for sure is told in a way that you hate the abusive Father that made the whole thing up. Punching out his own boys, abusing his daughter and wrecking recording contracts is the perfect fit when it comes to the "stage father" out for the cash and not caring who gets in the way. The Films paints a vivid picture of how easily kids can be swayed into anything a parent in this case makes them all do. Be a band, be sweet to everyone, lie about your life at home and ask for top dollar. When Shirley Jones testifies to herself asking why the Producers of The Partridge Family didn't use the real Cowsills? She got "Their not actors" as a bad answer. Actually I disagree, the mature Cowsills could have their own Reality Show with all the fighting, the healing and the mess their Father made of their lives still happening after all these years.
This Doc is in your face, hard hitting and provocative. But then its splattered with that pastel pop music that makes one physically sick.. well at least in my case. Talented, no way Jose.. a 2 hit wonder.. yes! Another story of Babylon but at least its not a Hollywood disaster this time. If you can get around the music, this one as a lesson of bad management and abuse in the music biz should not be missed.
God Bless Ozzy Osbourne (2011)
"Family Docs should be avoided!
"True Feature Doc Filmmaking is a dying art-form! That is; "To be completely and remain middle ground in your perspective of your subject matter. "In other words, to tell the whole story even if it means negative publicity! The way I see "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" is that it had a better chance if you titled it: "God Damn Ozzy Osbourne". The A-Typical rock star sex-drugs and rock & roll abound without us really getting inside and knowing anything more about this person than what is easily found already in the media. That is sad because Ozzy narrates well and tell his side of each life-changing event. But we are left empty in the end. Its not a narrative on Drug Abuse, its not a narrative on making millions in a heavy metal band and rising to the top and it most certainly is not a narrative about the demons that can affect all of us with too much fame and fortune. That is what the Filmmaker set out to make I'm sure and totally fails at doing so. Instead we end up with a family produced video that looks like a reality TV show. I was totally disappointed but I'm still happy that Ozzy is now sober and drug-free and quite frankly looks great! Lest to say for this Film, sorry to say.
Heart Like a Wheel (1983)
"The one that Oscar missed!
"Firstly, let me say this... in no time in the History of the Academy Awards has a major Film such as "Heart Like a Wheel" been so grossly overlooked. I don't know what happened with this one.. maybe there was no decent advertising, maybe 20th Century got nervous because of the subject matter and tried to hide the Film upon release or maybe and more likely is that the Voters of the Academy did not hear of or screen this film. Its a rotten damn shame, because Bonnie B. performance is unquestionably one of the greatest of all time! Tour de Force is not enough.. its simply taking a role and eating it alive! As important as Sally Field's "Norma Rae" was, Heart Like a Wheel proves that women can dominate not only in American Society but on the Silver Screen. Bridges is outstanding as a aggressive, violent and womanizing Connie Kalita. Even if you hate drag racing, see this film. Back to Oscar; the film did receive a Nomination for Best Costume Design, so I will give credit where credit is due. Rosenthal's original mysterious synth score is intriguing and haunts you well after leaving the theater. There is some ground-breaking sound here.. hopefully somebody smart will come along and re-digitize this soundtrack into a surround mix but the score is in Dolby. Jonathan Kaplan's Direction is quirky, not the best ever, but a fine job never-the-less. This is a subject matter that you have to have at least some knowledge of going into it and I think the Director did. I don't know if Shirley M. was actually on-set, didn't see a Tech Credit but I assume she may have been. Bonnie is sensational in this roller coaster, quarter mile of burning rubber emotional ride of a real-life courageous and abused woman. Enter woman into man's sport issues for the first time and all hell break loose when track records fall. Shades of modern-day racers such as Danica Patrick and Sarah Fisher are reminders that women continue to fight for their rights to not only have a chance to play the game but to win! Heart Like a Wheel wins in every single frame of film and is without question, the Film that somehow Oscar missed!
The Spirit of St. Louis (1957)
Lone Eagle vs Hollywood
"The Spirit of St. Louis" is a wonderful, fulfilling, exciting and beautifully made Motion Picture." It recounts one of the most important events in Human History based on Charles Linburgh's own words. Billy Wildler gives us a version of those historic events with a small mix of fiction that does not take away from the Biography of those actual events played out. James Stewart is perfectly casted although much older than the character he portrays. The usage of Stewart's Voice Over Narrative of his own actions is key in making a much less dramatic scene much more suspenseful. Its a tour-de-force for Stewart, a Military pilot himself. This is Wildler best drama that fits the bill of a great action adventure and some of the best aerio photography ever seen. Waxman's soundtrack is epic with a unforgettable theme and dramatic hues and movements. I find no faults with the film production. The problems I do find is when released in 1957, audiences reacted negatively and it is said the Film release was a box office flop. I believe that this may be because of the fire-storm that Linburgh set off himself in his politics. In 1958 America had a much different view of Lucky Lindy than when he was greeted by Four Million Americans when he returned from Paris in 1927. I'm sure Jack Warner was well aware of the possible backlash on making a Movie that glamorized a man that once stood for the greatest hero in the USA to one that many Politicians wanted to deport. Stewart was uncomfortable with all the media attention and said to have been uneasy throughout Production. The Film did receive a re-cut after its initial release but it did not help. So the reason I'm not giving this incredible film a perfect score is because the Business a Film does is worth at least 2 points. But for my money, this is the best it gets for both Billy Wildler and James Stewart! JEV -
Public Enemies (2009)
Dillinger, A New Twist?
"It took me two year to finally see this Film." I intended on seeing it upon release but stayed away because of a few negative reviews. Overall, I recommend this Film but with some reservation. There is somewhat of a thematic afterthought to glamorize this notorious gangster and that I cannot recommend. To rob banks and to murder in some of our (USA) most depressing times and to be idolized decades later is without question, a biographical error in Filmmaking and in judgment. There are also chronological errors as well as the fact that Pretty Boy Floyd times had not yet ended and Purvis (Bale) is given credit for his death by Dillinger (Depp). Now I realize that with three credited screenwriter's including the Film's Director, you would think somebody would have the correct factual research. Also, Gene Autry's stardom and music was not around until the 1930's but I won't quivel about that. The cast is great, Bale is really strong and Depp finds a way to make us think this man had at least some kind of heavy heart. The editing is choppy aka; Michael Mann style and there is even some modern music thrown in for effect. The problem is, this film and story as true has can be did not need to be edgy or at that matter a new-age gangster picture... what it needed is simply to honor the facts in the case. We know now the woman in red actually had a orange dress so if they had that research you would think the filmmakers had actual Chicago Police and FBI files to work from. The Production Design is excellent but for whatever reason, there is a purposely left out the society of people that smoked, drank heavily and were in the middle of a depression. For Michael Mann's the Film is actually tame aside from his realistic violence. I just wish his realism could reach to the people that are the subject of his Films. The G-Men are portrayed as usual babbling idiots and the gangsters are the typical dark underworld types. For the Dillinger conspiracy theory folks out there, you won't like this film but for myself that wanted to know more about Purvis's motives to get Public Ememy number one, it did satisfy my craving there.
True Grit (2010)
"Into the Sunset we Ride!
"I was informed that it was the Coen Bros. (True Grit) that actually had not seen the original Film as well as Jeff Bridges."
I argue: It is virtually impossible not to have seen or least in-part True Grit, the original Film. Kim Darby (who played Mattie) in the first film taught myself Drama in Film at UCLA, so of course we all had to watch and hear stories about her experience for a semester. If you own a TV, then you have seen True Grit... John Wayne's only Oscar Performance and being that it was a Paramount Picture Production and the new Film is also and being that Bridges is a "Duke" fan, the comments I believe were to draw the attention away from some of the negative reviews and the somewhat hapless advertising that Paramount has done for the sequel. True Grit was the biggest film of the Summer of 1969 and everyone saw or heard about this film then. Glen Campbell who played the Texas Ranger in the original film was on all the Talk Shows and Clips were played! Kim Darby thought then was a new bright young star was everywhere! And John Wayne, for any decent Filmmaker, they have studied the role of "Rooster" greatly. The Coen's are sometimes anti-Hollywood and many see anti-commercial Film and are sometimes it seems anti-publicizing their own Films. But that is the way they work... the new Film is more of a Roger Deakins Film, long time Coen Bros. Cinematographer than anything else and his vision is again amazing which makes the film well worth the price of admission! Its the most conservative film they have ever made and their first real western. It fails is many ways and Bridges seems not very comfortable playing the part that Duke made so famous. Again, I don't expect the Coens have to answer to anyone as they have always done it their own way and made wild comments about their films, sometimes positive and many times negative. The new Film draws sometimes verbatim from the Original Script which accounts for the Editors to have drawn from the original film. And of course Thespian Actors such as Bridges applaud themselves by not drawing off somebody else's performance! I strongly advise to screen the original Film.
"The new True Grit will gracefully ride into the sunset!
White Lightnin' (2009)
"Moonshiners Unite"
"I happen to have friends in the "deep south" and their neighbors are moonshiners. Would wake in the morning hearing shotgun blasts, killing wild turkeys? "White Lightnin' puts all the myths of the modern day hillbilly to rest." Hogg is amazing and outrageous at the same time and the cast is strong but the story as cut is just too fragmented for myself to give a slightly better than average review. The film is also too short and I think it needed more narrative to tell the story-line better. Well shot and designed with decent euphoric imagery works like a bad acid trip. Haunting and stays with you equals success for these Filmmakers. Soundtrack is very creative and original, but my only major downer was the too fast, quick cuts editorial. I look forward to this Directors future work for sure! -CSPS-Media
What Just Happened (2008)
"An inside joke!
"Actually, when a Director within the Film has the guts to re-edit a final cut prior to its premiere at Cannes without anyone knowing about it says to me; "This film is kinda a parody on Barry Levinson's as a Director in Hollywood! Its the worst case scenarios over and over that only Producer's, Director's & Crew could live to tell the story about! With shades of Altman's The Player, "What Just Happened? has you wondering the same. Its a crazy ride to turn bad movies into good movies and vice versa and to not go crazy doing it. This film very well should talk you out of Producing a Hollywood Studio Film if that is your life-long avocation. "I read once Barry was going back to Baltimore to make real movies again." I won't spoil this review with plots and sub-plots but I will say this; If you intend to make a film that is going to upset your peers or maybe make them all laugh on the way to the poor-farm, this is the movie for you. This movie seems to be all about Levinson's bad taste in his mouth (maybe in part based on a book) and his candidness to show us an early peek into the slow death of the so-called Movie Industry. I just wished that I could of seen the first cut. JEV
Paper Moon (1973)
Practicing what he Preaches:
I'm basing my review on not only seeing this wonderful film in its first run in 1973, but more importantly having the opportunity to again screen "Paper Moon" as part of the Visting Filmmaker - Florida Film Festival. The movie was shown on 35mm in a small art-house and Peter B. greeted the crowd and answered a few questions as well. What amazed myself was how humble he was, certainly not your common Producer and or Director trait these days. He told us about the Locations in Kansas and the miserable whether, hot-cold and rain. When Tatum's first scene came up, she did not correctly speak the dialog from the Script. Then he was told; "She can't read! He decided then and there with all her scenes, she could just improvise whatever dialog she felt best saying! That is what makes this film, the dialog match the characters in time period in Amercian History that is hard today to even imagine. The boldness of Peter B. to just go with the flow per say and let Ryan and Tatum work off each other comes off as some of the best acting ever on screen. This film never leaves my mind when I see other Movies of that time period such as The Last Picture Show and Ironweed. My real favorite is "Hard Times". But Paper Moon gets to the point of everything it touches, a wonderful example of true American Cinema when Stories mattered! The cast speaks for themselves, the cinematography... a lesson in shooting B&W in modern day times and general Production Design of this film is the Best you can get. I cannot find a single flaw..., although Peter B. told us about many which makes this Cinematic experience for myself... even a better one. Paper Moon reaches out and touches all that see it without taking the credit for doing so! John Vizzusi, Filmmaker - Central State Productions