Movie #35- "The Hustler" (1961)

Apparently during the 60s, everyone smoked cigarettes and drank coffee for breakfast.  At least until the bars opened at 8.  That may not have been the case, but alcohol is a driving force in "The Hustler".  Alcohol is not used in terms of celebration but rather for drowning the sorrows and miseries of those who refuse to face the reality of life.  "The Hustler" is a film that still resonates to modern times, the story of a talented individual who lacks character.
Here, the talent is pool.  Paul Newman is Fast Eddie, a hustler traveling from pool hall to pool hall, making small scores along the way.  He gets a chance to go up against a great, Minnesota Fats, and while he starts out strong, Fats is able to outlast Fast Eddie, breaking him both financially and emotionally.  Fast Eddie must then pull himself up again, with the help of a lonely alcoholic.  Sacrifices are made along the way.
The pool matches (are they called matches?) between Eddie and Fats are the bookends of the film and work as the highlights.  I've never really been a huge fan of Jackie Gleason, yet his is one of my favorite performances in the film.  Newman is intense as Fast Eddie.  My only issue was Piper Laurie as her performance is a little too Tennessee Williams.  Who knew pool could provide so much tension?

Rating: 9/10
Movies I've previously seen: 3
First time viewings: 32