Review of The Hustler (1961) by Tonypolito — 22 Oct 2010

An "essential" in every sense of the term.

Green felt and pool halls are merely the backdrop within this intensely dramatic study of an overconfident and flawed man who wanders into the cruel world of bigger stakes, where anyone who lags the least bit in character or talent is made the victim.

Fast Eddie (Newman) validates himself through his pool cue, but he's too fast, too impulsive, too egotistical - when humility and patience are called for. Stoic emperor of the tables Minnesota Fats (Gleason) plays Newman's flaws and takes him down hard, setting Newman upon an odyssey in search of his own self-worth and purpose.

When Newman stumbles into emotionally and physically crippled shot-glass galpal Laurie, the duo are well-primed to share the scare resource of mutual human compassion - something surely not found either in a pool hall or a fifth of Scotch. But Newman will first have to learn - the hard way - how to become a human being of stronger character in order to recognize the better choice.

Brimming with powerful performances by Newman, Gleason, Laurie and George C. Scott as Newman's stone-hearted bankroller.

Incredibly effective black & white lighting and shadowing of the actors and their faces continually accentuates the drama.

Twenty-five years later, Newman reprised the Fast Eddie role within "The Color of Money," by then aged into the mentor (of Tom Cruise), a purveyor of knowledge earned by taking a PhD in hard knocks, preventing Cruise from being the victim that Fast Eddie once was.

"Money" put an Oscar on Newman's mantle - but it's widely presumed that it was actually the statue the Academy felt it still owed Newman for the intense and talented performance he delivered in "The Hustler.".

RECOMMENDATION: Not to be missed.