Review of The Sting (1973) by Ben L — 14 Jan 2015

When I first saw The Sting I was in my late teens, and as a dumb kid I sometimes failed to appreciate movies that lacked constant action and excitement. Watching this movie now was a revelation. It is a well constructed film that seems to fit into the heist genre. I love how they structured the story so that you were never totally sure what was planned as part of the con and what was happening "in real life." It has some great scenes of pulling the team together and establishing what is the key role for each character. Robert Redford and Paul Newman are a charming pair and Robert Shaw plays a nice counterpoint as the primary antagonist.

Easily my favorite aspect of The Sting is the way they capture the 1930s. It feels so genuine in every way from set design to costuming, and even in the way the characters talk. I'm not sure how necessary the love interest for Redford was in the overall story arc. It kind of felt like a random detour, but they seemed to do a nice job of connecting it back into the primary storyline. I can totally understand why this is a best picture winner. It is just a joy to watch. I find the pacing of the story, the acting performances, and the overall plotline to be wonderful. I'm glad I revisited The Sting, because it is one of those that has stood the test of time. It is just as enjoyable today as I'm sure it was back in 1973.