The Hustler DVD Review

Pool Hand Luke

Released : October 27th 1961

Certificate : 15

Director : Robert Rossen

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

Plot : The story of  ‘Fast’ Eddie Felsen (Newman), a top of his game pool hustler who’s been making good money on the road. But when he challenges Minnesota Fats (Gleason), the rumoured best pool player in the country, and meets a shy girl called Sarah, things get difficult.

 

The Hustler is another ‘classic’ to be made out of a Paul Newman lead. The film has big respect amongst filmmakers, enough that Martin Scorsese directed a sequel to the film called The Colour of Money, with Newman returning to the role of Fast Eddie. It gained one Oscar for cinematography, and six additional nominations that included all of the four main actors for their roles as well as best picture. While Newman in his earlier career had films much more noted than this, this was one of his very earliest, coming before Cool Hand Luck and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

From the general synopsis of the film you’d expect to see a drama based on a series of dramatic pools games, the film devoting much time to the drama of different games in isolation as he Eddie works his way to the top. While the film does contain this, there is a more prevalent storyline that occupies the majority of screen time. This is the story of Eddie’s relationship with Sarah which takes an unvarnished look at alcoholism, loneliness and depression. So for all the charm and charisma of Newman as an actor, the taste to this film may be surprising. For the romantic relationship of these two characters, the writing is realistic in the way that it is economic and understated. The script doesn’t contain clichés (for the time it was made) and doesn’t over-dramatize the topic matter dealt with. The result of which are characters that you may not ‘like’ or approve of, but this is a result of writing that is not hyperbole and is true to the characters (a line doesn’t feel out of place or made for memorabilia value).

For the acting across the board it ticks all of the boxes that are needed for great drama. The lead from Newman is as brilliant as ever, although it does fall into vibe of the rest of his characters in a career that’s slightly type cast. But the character development that his role goes through and that he is able to realize is superb, to really convey a character that is a changed man by the end of the story. The supporting performances are a great match to Newman as well. Gleason performance who plays Minnesota Fats, a confident and collected pool player who has been the best for years, is very entertainingly realized, but with a slightly rushed character arc. C Scott, who plays the manager of Fats, a rich but determined businessman, is the biggest standout next to Newman who grounds a performance with a gripping arc, despite being borderline over the top in some scenes.

Piper Laurie’s performance may not be as acclaimed, due to the characters weak cautious nature, which at times become tedious. But despite this Laurie very well captures a deflated character with little enthusiasm, a hard character to get behind but a well-acted on none the less. So The Hustler isn’t the engrossing sports drama in the way that many would expect, with an abundance of gripping pool room game scenes with poignant dialogue. Instead it is engrossing due to its flawed and ‘damaged goods’ characters which have brilliant arcs (which for their time would have been much more original than today) and performances that make it a standout character study piece.

Verdict : A sports drama that would seem dated made today likely, with pacing that will drag for some audiences. The performances and the script elevate the film beyond these flaws, in a slow burning melancholy drama.

Verdict : 4/5

Quote : You have the best excuse in the world for losing; no trouble losing when you got a good excuse.