The Hustler - Paul Newman

Roxy Dreggs

Anyone seen this film?

What you reckon?

For those who haven't, I'll give a brief synopsis.

A pool hustler (Newman), is pitted against the No. 1 regarded pool player in the country.

He looses.

The film then tells the tale of Newmans journey to the depths of depravity, his emergence, his resurgence, and eventual ascendancy over his original foe.

Sounds like a pretty typical plot, but there's a host of sub themes that are very well illustrated and characterized.


If you haven't seen, gotta recommend it.
It's a sixties film, but the kind you say, "they don't make them like that anymore".


For those who have seen it, how'd you like it?

Nolanger

It's quite similar to his earlier boxing film Somebody up there likes me. Also, the Films forum is seven to the left.

Biggins

Roxy Dreggs wrote: »

Anyone seen this film?
What you reckon?
For those who haven't, I'll give a brief synopsis.

A pool hustler (Newman), is pitted against the No. 1 regarded pool player in the country.
He looses.

The film then tells the tale of Newmans journey to the depths of depravity, his emergence, his resurgence, and eventual ascendancy over his original foe.

Sounds like a pretty typical plot, but there's a host of sub themes that are very well illustrated and characterized.

If you haven't seen, gotta recommend it.
It's a sixties film, but the kind you say, "they don't make them like that anymore".

For those who have seen it, how'd you like it?

A load of balls.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Nolanger wrote: »

It's quite similar to his earlier boxing film Somebody up there likes me. Also, the Films forum is seven to the left.

Seven to the RIGHT. No wonder people get lost around here :rolleyes:

Saila

thats the one with tom cruise yeah?

the sting is much better with Newman and redford :cool:

OutlawPete

It's a classic, hope to see it on the big screen some day

Think you might like the Film forum.

DailyBlaa

Saila wrote: »

thats the one with tom cruise yeah?

the sting is much better with Newman and redford :cool:

You are thinking of "The Colour of Money" which was a kind of sequel to The Hustler but no where near as good.

Biggins

Ok, joking aside, it was a good film but then they had to go and make a sequel with that lunatic Cruise.

Roxy Dreggs

What I found most intriguing, as regards one of the sub themes, was Newmans effective "release" from that world of depravity - or perhaps, more specifically, his ejection from it.

After the pivotal scene, towards the end of the film, we, the viewers, understand that under no circumstances would Newman continue to operate under his shady confidant.

This serves as a means for his withdrawal from that world.
The world of depravity that is described as, "perverted, hateful, twisted".

I think the nature through which this situation unfolded is what is most intriguing.

To win what he wanted most (to beat his original foe), he had to effectively sacrifice what was cherished to him most, at that point.

Whether he did this with some degree of intent, or whether that was that nature of the way the situation unfolded - or perhaps a bit of both - this is the root of the theme that I think makes the film so unique.

ejmaztec

Roxy Dreggs wrote: »

What I found most intriguing, as regards one of the sub themes, was Newmans effective "release" from that world of depravity - or perhaps, more specifically, his ejection from it.

After the pivotal scene, towards the end of the film, we, the viewers, understand that under no circumstances would Newman continue to operate under his shady confidant.

This serves as a means for his withdrawal from that world.
The world of depravity that is described as, "perverted, hateful, twisted".

I think the nature through which this situation unfolded is what is most intriguing.

To win what he wanted most (to beat his original foe), he had to effectively sacrifice what was cherished to him most, at that point.

Whether he did this with some degree of intent, or whether that was that nature of the way the situation unfolded - or perhaps a bit of both - this is the root of the theme that I think makes the film so unique.

Have you only just seen this 1961 movie?

Tahuti

Roxy Dreggs wrote: »

What I found most intriguing, as regards one of the sub themes, was Newmans effective "release" from that world of depravity - or perhaps, more specifically, his ejection from it.

After the pivotal scene, towards the end of the film, we, the viewers, understand that under no circumstances would Newman continue to operate under his shady confidant.

This serves as a means for his withdrawal from that world.
The world of depravity that is described as, "perverted, hateful, twisted".

I think the nature through which this situation unfolded is what is most intriguing.

To win what he wanted most (to beat his original foe), he had to effectively sacrifice what was cherished to him most, at that point.

Whether he did this with some degree of intent, or whether that was that nature of the way the situation unfolded - or perhaps a bit of both - this is the root of the theme that I think makes the film so unique.

This describes my troubled existence in After Hours.

Roxy Dreggs

ejmaztec wrote: »

Have you only just seen this 1961 movie?

Nah, I watched it for the first time about three weeks ago..

Watched it again about 2 or 3 times since then.

AlmightyCushion

From after hours.

DirtyLeeds

The Color of Money is my favourite film of all time

'Hey................................I'M BACK!!!!!'

What an actor