Playing some pool and learning to live

Rating: 10/10 (3 November 2010)

"Fast Eddie" Felson is a pool hustler who travels cross-country with his partner Charlie.He wants to challenge the legendary Minnesota Fats.Eddie loses after a long battle, but he will face him again.The ruthless manager Bert Gordon takes Eddie under his wings.Eddie also finds a girl, Sarah Packard, who has an alcohol problem and who limps.They both have troubles, and lots of them.The Hustler (1961) is directed by Robert Rossen.It's adapted from the novel by Walter Tevis, written in 1959.The late great Paul Newman is one of the kind as "Fast Eddie" Felson.It's hard to even imagine anybody else for the part, even though they considered names like Frank Sinatra, Cliff Robertson and Jack Lemmon.Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats, even though he doesn't have the biggest screen time, has a very memorable role.His whole essence fills the screen, and I'm not only referencing to his size.Piper Laurie's portrayal of Sarah Packard is very sensitive.And it's also very realistic the way she plays the crippled Sarah who drinks too much.George C. Scott gives a very powerful performance as Bert Gordon.Just look at him where he shouts "You owe me MONEY!" Myron McCormick is terrific as Charlie.Murray Hamilton plays the part of Findley.Michael Constantine portrays Big John.Stefan Gierasch is Preacher.William Duell gives his debut movie role as Louisville hustler.The former middleweight champion Jake LaMotta gives a cameo appearance as a bartender.Also the pool champion Willie Mosconi appears in the movie.This movie shows two imperfect people, Eddie and Sarah.Thery're both crippled in their own ways.Their love story is beautifully portrayed, in an unusual way.The Hustler is not about pool, it's about those characters.There are many memorable moments in this classic film.The pool scenes with Minnesota Fats have got a lot of drama.And when Eddie decides to show some young pool shark his real skills and his thumbs get broken.One special scene is the picnic scene.There Eddie does most of the talking while Sarah listens.It's a tragic moment when Eddie comes to his hotel room and finds out Sarah has committed suicide.The movie got nine Oscar nominations and won two.The character "Fast Eddie" Felson was seen again in a sequel The Color of Money 25 years later.The Hustler is a perfect sports drama movie, which depicts the game and the people brilliantly.