"You bum, you pool room bum"

Rating: 8/10 (7 May 2020)

Paul Newman is a young talented pool player who wanders from town to town, living from hustling mediocre players into playing for money. He is convinced that he is the best, and he dreams of proving it by defeating the famous "Minnesota Fats" and taking him at least ten thousand dollars (the equivalent of today's hundred thousand). Unfortunately, as with most things in life, talent and skill are not enough, and the difference between winners and losers is largely determined by maturity and character.
"The Hustler" is, on the one hand, one of the best billiard films. Games were choreographed by fourteen-time world champion Willie Mosconi, who was also in charge of performing the most complex shots. And, on the other hand, this is an excellent character study of a man incapable to snap out and make something of his life until he touches the bottom first. The film deservedly won Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White Oscars, and all the main actors were nominated. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing, so there is no need to rattle about technical qualities. My subjective impression is a strong eight and I warmly recommend it.
8/10