A Review of Two of the Greatest Scenes in Cinema

Rating: 10/10 (6 August 2015)

There are so many great reviews of this amazing film (which easily belongs in the top 50 ever made) but I would like to point out two key scenes that no one seems to have really noticed that each show the incredible artistry of Paul Newman and Robert Rossen.
First, the opening scene before the credits role and Kenyon Hopkins' incredible musical score begins when "Fast Eddie" and "Charlie" pull into the small Pennsylvania bar to hustle a few dollars.
Next time you watch it check out the smile on Newman's face as he suddenly changes from wobbly drunk to absolutely confident, consummate pool hustler and makes that impossible shot (I've tried it 100 times with no luck).
How can a momentary change in an actor's countenance constitute one of the of the great moments in film? I don't know, but Newman manages it here.
He just smiles, he manages one of the most classic 5 mile stares ever, and doesn't even appear to notice the outcome. He KNOWS he made the shot before he even made it. Just that one moment is so brilliant every time I watch the film I play it through about 5 times before I go on.
And then there is the great ending as the credits role and everyone vacates the pool room, one by one. Kenyon Hopkins should have won some kind of award for the music he provided for just that one scene.
The final sax note and strummed guitar chord when the film stops rolling is like the end of a great symphony. A never to be matched ending to one of the greatest masterpieces ever in the history of American film making.