Fats Wins

Rating: 10/10 (20 March 2006)

Because this is Paul Newman's signature role, a lot of people overlook Gleason's performance. Like Brando in "The Godfather" or Hopkins in "Silence of the Lambs," his screen time is very short but hangs over the entire film. After the first shoot-out, as the story progresses, you know in the back of your mind that he's back at Aames waiting. Newman's performance is one of the greatest, but he's young, still coming into his own and has a few awkward, heavy-handed moments--for example the "I'm the best you've ever seen" speech is done awkwardly in a Brooklynesque accent that's just weird. Having BEEN a hustler, Gleason's performance is massively confident, flawless. Iconic performances: Ralph Kramden, Minnesota Fats and Sheriff Beauford T. Justice (Bandit I, only)--this guy was a GREAT actor with the right material. At one point, in the late 50s I think, he was considering playing an old-time ward pol in a John O'Hara script. That would have been something to see and may have put him over the top as a dramatic actor. Recommended: the movie version of "Requiem for a Heavyweight" with Gleason as Maish Rennick, another top Gleason/late-noir turn.