The Hustler Review
The Hustler combines elements of film noir, Westerns, sports films, and a heavy dose of existentialism. Some have suggested that the film has a Biblical aspect: the ever-darkened pool halls are each man's Hell, with the parasitic Bert Gordon (George_C._Scott) as the Satanic figure who lures Eddie with his own brand of apple. Others point to the film as a parable for the conflict between art and commerce, utilitarianism and metaphysics. Regardless of interpretation, The Hustler is a crackling good morality tale, with a series of top-notch performances, appropriately moody black-and-white cinematography, and a master and prodigy conflict as old as the ages. Paul_Newman's performance is a raw-nerved, twitchy wonder, while Jackie_Gleason, Scott, and Piper_Laurie provide supporting performances of rare depth. Director Robert_Rossen allows the complex relationships of the film's key figures plenty of time to evolve, while his careful work establishes a tangibly musty and seedy sense of the film's pool hall setting. Fast Eddie's ultimate redemption, which comes at a terrible price, gives the film a melancholy and bittersweet conclusion that is wholly fitting. Dan Jardine, Rovi
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