Customer Reviews
Then and now - By: Mr. J. Cook, 02 Jan 2008 
American films now are routinely full of violence & swearing (though curiously never all that much sex) but are at heart almost invariably juvenile, soft-headed & sentimental. I was shocked by this film - which contains one "Bastard!" & some off-screen violence portrayed by means of a scream - because of the brutal adult honesty of the dialogue & the tough bleak view of human existence. Paul Newman is mesmerising, a great actor & a true star; the histrionics of Damon, Di Caprio, Pitt etc laughable by comparison. George C Scott is maybe even a shade better. The film lets the viewer inhabit a world he wouldn't otherwise know: the seedy smoke-filled pool rooms, gambling tables, bars of a nameless American city. It's not the glossy - & now so often CGI-d - fantasy world that American film has shown ever since I've been old enough to go to the cinema. And the pool itself is truly exciting: the exquisite editing never lets you forget the battle of wills behind every shot. For me it's the first masterpiece of that great age of American cinema that reached its heightin the `70s & as iconic a representation of American life at mid-century as `Death of a Salesman'.
Newman perfectly fits in the role of Felson - By: Jay, 18 Dec 2007 Newman was born to play cocky, talented & troubled pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felsonin one of his best roles. Felson has the gift but not the right attitude to make it to the topsin an endless parade of seedy bars & quick action. Superb support by Laurie as his doomed yet supportive lady & Gleason makes it worth the while as pool shark legend Minnesota Fats. Scott is memorably slimy as the slick talking oddsmaker/Satanin disguise. Written & directed with panache by Robert Rossen. Newman, who was nominated for Best Actor, would reprise his role 25 years laterin Martin Scorsese's sequel "The Color of Money" & (finally) win the Oscar for Best Actor. Oscar nods went to Laurie, Gleason, Scott & Rossen as well.
Newman / Pool Classic - By: Malcolm Clarke, 03 Apr 2007 The cameo from Willie Mosconi adds credibility to this excellent Pool film. This is essentially a love story about a flawed genius who's ability is comprimised because of his character.
Paul Newman plays this part to perfection. Thanks to Mosconis tutoring he is convincing as the excellent Pool hustler that gives Minnesota Fats a run for his money. Newmans defeat, & struggles thereafter gives him the strength to have a better go at beating him the second time around. Felson may beat Fats, but this is not the end of his struggles. Love, Blackmail, Talent & the lengths one goes to win & what it ultimately costs are themes exploredin this classic movie.
Together with the Color of Money, filmed 25 years later, they are excellent films set against the backdrop of Pool & gambling. This film started a large upturnin the amount of people who played poolin the 1960's, after you have seen it, you will see why.
hustlers of pool and life - By: Carlos Vazquez Quintana, 16 Feb 2006 Fast Eddie Felson is the best gamblerin American billiard. He’s a pool hustler but that’s only for pure need & survival. Instead, there’s Bert Gordon played by George C Scott, who really is another hustler, much more dangerous as he gambles over the lives of other people. Bert is a rich but destructive businessman as he invests over the talent of other people, as he envies the ability of these persons. Eddie is one of these people, as he’s at last an artist of the sub- world of billiard. When Eddie feels he has played good he feelsin heaven, but truly, few people understands him. People who surrounds Eddie only want money, but Eddie wants glory.
But he can’t reach glory only supported by his narrowminded, short sight & modest financial mate, superbly played by Myron McCormick And so, only three people understands Eddie: one is Sarah, a tormented neurotic & lonely girl without love. Sarah, a sensible person, has the intuition Bert Gordon is a cruel man who likes to destroy people which has capacities he’s unable to attain. The third person is paradoxically Minnesota Fats, the other most extraordinary player of pool, & the most hard adversary of Eddie, but truly a loyal enemy, mostly a colleague. All thatin a dramatic, even tragic but quiet mood & superb black& white photography.
classic - By: , 23 Feb 2005 apart from being a major music fan, im quite fond of films too. Ever since i started to play pool & snooker i looked for a film to goin my collection around this area. I bought color of money & was blown away, later on i heard that the hustler was its prequel & i just had to have it. i was amazed, no wonder this film is so highly regarded. it sets the standard not only for sports but for the excellent acting. Paul newman is fantastic & plays a much livlier rolein this film than the sequel. i was delighted with this film & constantly try to pull off the trick shots...on a snooker table. get this film if you like sports, & healthy acting, great storylines. teh dvd has a great menu & great special features. this film is top dog..can't say much else
