Sep
25
The Hustler (USA, 1961, Robert Rossen)
The Hustler combines elements of film noir, Westerns, sports films, and a heavy dose of existentialism.
Some have suggested that the film has a Biblical aspect: the ever-darkened pool halls are each man's Hell, with the parasitic Bert Gordon (George C. Scott) as the Satanic figure who lures Eddie with his own brand of apple. Others point to the film as a parable for the conflict between art and commerce, utilitarianism and metaphysics.
Regardless of interpretation, The Hustler is a crackling good morality tale, with a series of top-notch performances, appropriately moody black-and-white cinematography, and a master and prodigy conflict as old as the ages.
The Hustler combines elements of film noir, Westerns, sports films, and a heavy dose of existentialism.
Some have suggested that the film has a Biblical aspect: the ever-darkened pool halls are each man's Hell, with the parasitic Bert Gordon (George C. Scott) as the Satanic figure who lures Eddie with his own brand of apple. Others point to the film as a parable for the conflict between art and commerce, utilitarianism and metaphysics.
Regardless of interpretation, The Hustler is a crackling good morality tale, with a series of top-notch performances, appropriately moody black-and-white cinematography, and a master and prodigy conflict as old as the ages.
