The Hustler

UK Release Date: 26 October 1961

Certification: 15
Director: Robert Rossen

Cast: Jackie Gleason, Murray Hamilton, Piper Laurie, Myron McCormick, Paul Newman, George C. Scott

Rating: 83%

Review:

Recently, I was able to see a double feature of The Hustler and The Color of Money on the big screen. 1961's The Hustler, based on a novel of the same name, is one of the best sports films ever brought to life.

Paul Newman is unstoppable in the lead role. It's a masterful performance as hustler, Eddie 'Fast Eddie' Felson. So much heart and emotion spills through the screen, it's truly moving - earning Newman a nomination for best actor at the 34th Academy Awards. He oozes charisma and charm throughout the runtime but is able to dip into an emotional, broken side when needed. The chemistry with Piper Laurie is brilliant to watch on screen. Their relationship isn't picturesque by any means but it's representative of the times. Jackie Gleason adds a lot of character nuance with limited screen time, making for a complicated but relatable antagonist.   

Prior to watching the film I was worried that the film being shot in black and white wouldn't work. Those worries were put to bed within the first few scenes. The Hustler is extremely well shot and well lit which earned the film an Oscar win for cinematography. The film bypasses the issue of not being able to fully follow the pool due to the lack of colour by calling the number and pocket before the majority of shots - a very clever inclusion. 

Centring a narrative around pool is a risky direction to take a film in the first place but Robert Rossen handles it to perfection. I like to think I'm somewhat traditional in how I view film, so I like the cinema to be silent nonetheless the person behind me voiced his opinion on the pool with audible awe. It's not how I choose to act in the cinema but The Hustler warrants that reaction. It's a marvel to view, spell-binding at points. There's a real excitement around any scene involving pool and it's totally mesmerising to watch.

My only complaint is that I felt The Hustler could've trimmed the runtime by 10/15 minutes and it still would've functioned the same. However, this was a pleasantly surprising viewing experience and a film that doesn't get discussed enough.