Paul Newman's Greatest Role.

Rating: Null/10 (3 July 2002)

Well-acted masterpiece which has Paul Newman (Oscar-nominated) as the young hot-head who wants to hustle all comers at the pool table. He is the best, no doubt about it, but his cockiness and his inability to see the "big picture" will lead to tragedy on more than one occasion. He shows that he is better than the excellent Minnesota Fats (played brilliantly in a short role by Oscar-nominee Jackie Gleason), but being the best is not good enough for Newman and he sinks himself. Oscar-nominee George C. Scott then takes Newman along with him to hustle high-class players, but Newman's naivety and lack of intelligence do not help out his situation. "The Hustler" is also a love story as Newman and Oscar-nominee Piper Laurie self-destruct as Newman cannot control himself and Laurie cannot control a terrible alcohol problem. Heart-rending, entertaining, fascinating and brilliant in every way, "The Hustler" is one of the greatest films ever produced hands down. 5 stars out of 5.