"This is a Pool movie mister"

Rating: 8/10 (23 September 1999)

Jackie Gleason deserved the Academy Award for his performance in this film and didn't get it. Now that that's out of the way. This is one great movie. Right from the start when Paul Newman as Fast Eddie Felson and his manager Charlie played by Myron McCormick stop in at a local bar/poolhall and a quick hustle is made on the locals headed up by Vincent Gardenia the story never weakens. The bleakness of the Ames pool hall is captured to a T in the Black and White photography. George C. Scott is masterful as Bert Gordon a big time gambler who is the backer of Gleasons character Minnesota Fats. Piper Laurie, Michael Constantine, Murray Hamilton costar and look for a quick appearance by the Raging Bull himself Jake La Motta as a bartender. Years later Newman reprised his role as Fast Eddie in The Color of Money and was rewarded with an Oscar but this film is vastly superior. Grab your favorite distilled neutral spirit J.T.S. Brown maybe sit back and enjoy because `This is a Pool movie Mister'