Review of The Hustler (1961) by Hunter D — 26 May 2011

When I finally got around to watching Robert Rossenâ(TM)s THE HUSTLER, I got a movie that was the complete opposite of what I expected. What I thought I was going to see was a movie about a guy sharpening his pool hustling game, he meets a girl, gets in a financial bind, and has to win the big game at the end. Boy howdy, was I wrong.

The film I saw was much more complex and intense than I predicted. Paul Newmanâ(TM)s performance as âFast Eddieâ? Felson, a man on the painful road to self-awareness as he discovers the true meaning of what it means to be a winner and a loser, was so layered and mature it that it caught me off guard.

The supporting cast is equally formidable. Piper Laurieâ(TM)s performance as Sarah, Eddieâ(TM)s love interest, serves as a reminder that Hollywood doesnâ(TM)t know how to write female characters anymore. Her tragic attempt to overcome her own self-destructive behavior, all while attempting to save Eddie from himself, is the heart and soul of the film. George C. Scott brings in his undeniably authoritative presence as Bert, a sly professional gambler who takes Eddie under his wing, only to numb him the importance of anything in life but properly winning the game.

But it is Jackie Gleason who leaves the strongest impression as Minnesota Fats, the best of the best that Eddie obsesses over beating. Gleason, who was a formidable pool player in real life, brings an astonishing level of authenticity to the role, as he gracefully circles the table, calls the shots, and observes (and subtly applauds) from the sideline. Though he has a small amount of screen time, his presence is as impossible to shake as Eddieâ(TM)s obsession with beating him.

What makes THE HUSTLER great is that it's a movie about self-awareness, the search for "character" and facing horrible truths. You don't often see a movie where the hero must give in to reality, especially from one made in 1960.