Drama of the highest calibre

Rating: 9/10 (6 September 2012)

The Hustler is a sports drama that really isn't about a sport. The lead character 'Fast' Eddie Felston is a brilliant pool player and there are several games that are pivotal to the narrative but the movie is really firmly about the people. It's a story populated by characters on the fringes. 'Fast' Eddie himself may well be a highly talented pool shark but his life is in a mess. He is full of self-doubt and going nowhere. His story arc is hardly typical of sports dramas; if anything it resembles a tragedy, the ending is at best bitter sweet. It's a pretty dark film overall. It was a new type of Hollywood picture back in 1961. For its time it must have been fairly daring and modern. It still feels modern to be honest and that says a lot about how well made it was. The characterisations are unashamedly complex. No one in the film is cardboard, they are all multi-dimensional. Even the villain of the piece Bert Gordon is a fully rounded creation and you can empathise with him on occasion.
The writing is extremely good and it's matched by the extremely high calibre acting. Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott and Jackie Gleason are all exceptional; but even minor parts by Murray Hamilton and Myron McCormick are immaculately played too. It's a film of drama of the top level but highly cinematic too. It has excellent widescreen photography, in beautiful black and white. Presumably it wasn't shot in colour because the studio figured this dark and serious story wouldn't be a big commercial proposition. The soundtrack, like many from the time, has a lush jazzy score that adds a great deal to the downbeat feel.
The Hustler is a complex film with considerable depth. It hasn't aged at all. It's one of the best dramas from the 60's.