More 'Pool Conman' than 'Paul Newman'! (The Hustler (DVD))

Name: oxonian

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Product:	The Hustler (DVD)
Date:	23.12.07 (172 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Exciting pool sequences, gripping romance and intriguing storyline

Disadvantages: Poor visuals at times and shot in black and white

Being a massive sports film fan, coupled with the fact I am an above average standard pool player, I could not help but buy this film when I picked it up off the shelf. It is worth noting, however, that this film is shot in black and white.

The Hustler is about 'Fast Eddie' Felson, played by the cool and charismatic Paul Newman, a Hollywood legend who's real life personality makes him an ideal fit to play the hero of this epic. The sport in this film is Straight pool, which is a type of american pool game where the player can pot any colour on the table, each pot amounting to one point, until they reach an agreed amount of points. Fast Eddie is a virtuoso pool player in this speciality, who enters pool halls to con people out of substantial amounts of money by playing poorly against his victims until the stakes get high and then he unmercilously whitewashes them.

Plot
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The basic storyline is that Fast Eddie wants to be known as the best player and hustler in the world, and the only way he sees himself achieving this accolade is to defeat the so far unbeatable and unrivaled Minnesota Fats. Minnesota Fats, played by Jackie Gleason, is a tall, elegantly dressed, fuller figured, maestro pool player that has not been beaten in over 15 years. He swaggers and floats around the table with the finesse of a swan, and strokes the cue like a violinist.

After an initial beating from Fats, the rest of the film sees Eddie attempting to raise cash in order to take on Fats again, whilst facing an uphill stuggle to regain his form and confidence. On the way he meets Sarah Packard (Piper Laurie) an alcoholic with very low self-esteem and confidence and a permanent limp. Furthermore, Eddie finds himself with no choice but to sign up with Fats's ruthless and cutthroat manager Bert, played by George C Scott. Bert, as a establishment figure, however has a hidden agenda when he takes on Eddie, the contrasting anti-establishment, rebellious figure, as he "supports" him in getting the necessary funds to play Fats again. Does Bert really want to help Eddie, or does his perception of their social class difference cause him to want to lead Eddie on a path to destruction?

The conclusion of the film sees a breathtaking rematch and an incredibly dramatic climax to Eddie's personal life.

Analysis of the film
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I enjoyed this film immensely - it was spectacular on many levels. The soundtrack is quite jazzy, and it is used to reflect the mood in the particular scene where it is played. During the first match when play is busy, there are fast notes in the music, but predominantly it appears to be mainly downbeat - probably to adapt to the areas in the film where Eddie's mood is low and he is down on his luck.

The quality of the acting is brilliant. This film is regarded as one of Newman's most famous roles, and it is not difficult to see why, when he plays a captivating character. At most times, Felson is cocky and overconfident, and at other times he is vulnerable and abrasive, which mirrors the complicated personality of Snooker's Ronnie O'Sullivan. It seems to indicate the kind of mindset that a billiards genius has, where perfection in their game means everything, and bouts of medocrity totally destroys their confidence. I also found Piper Laurie's acting superb - she portrays a loner with problems character almost perfectly, which is quite worrying!

On the negative side, there are visually some mistakes that are plain to see. The then World Pool Champion Willie Mosconi was used to take the impressive trick shots for Eddie and Fats, and in scenes where he takes the shot for Eddie, his hand is noticably too fat to be Newman's which takes away from The Hustler's credibility. There are also occasions when the camera cuts to another angle of a shot, that the balls are not in the same place as in the previous shot, which signals the directing, in some aspects was quite poor. However, these do not take much away from the film.

As a pool fan, I found the shots unbelievable and I am sure that any pool player can learn a lot from the evident cue actions of Eddie and Fats and their positional play. I found the sports plot excellent - the portrayal of a brutal and highly intense rivalry, and the sheer bloody-mindedness of the underdog to overcome a champion.

Furthermore, I found the love storyline very interesting and complex - loving, brutal, blissful, insecure and disturbing, but easily the most intriguing aspect of this film. It is very fascinating to see the development of a relationship between two very similar characters that are both confident when in drink, but very vulnerable when sober, with a desire to matter in some way in this world.

Personal Opinion
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I would definitely recommend that any sports fan watch this film, because, like Rocky, it is a tale of an underdog taking on the supreme master, and the agony, stuggle and strive for perfection that underdog goes through to be physically and mentally ready for the final fight. For a couple wanting a film to watch, I would also highly advise you watch this, this film is just as much a romance as it is a sports film, compellingly and dramatic though it may be. For an intellectual audience, this film provides a challenge when attempting to decipher the deeper plot and the motivations behind each of the characters.

The film was directed by Robert Rossen, and runs for 134 mins. This film was made in 1961. You can buy the DVD on play.com for£5.99.

Cast

Paul Newman ... Eddie Felson
Jackie Gleason ... Minnesota Fats
Piper Laurie ... Sarah Packard
George C. Scott ... Bert Gordon
Myron McCormick ... Charlie Burns

Thanks for reading.

Summary: Supreme sports film and romance for this era