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The Hustler
1961 134 min United States of America 16+
★8.6
Drama, Romance
Director: Robert Rossen
🎭 Based on
«The Hustler»
byWalter Tevis
Trailers
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EN
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Description
Fast Eddie Felson is a small-time pool hustler with a lot of talent but a self-destructive attitude. His bravado causes him to challenge the legendary Minnesota Fats to a high-stakes match.
Budget:
$2M
Worldwide:
$7.6M
Starring
Paul Newman
Actor
Jackie Gleason
Actor
Piper Laurie
Actor
Awards
BAFTA 1962
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 1962
— Best Cinematography (Black and White)
BAFTA 1962
— Best International Actor
Academy Awards 1962
— Best Production Design (Black and White)
Academy Awards 1962
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 1962
— Best Actor
Academy Awards 1962
— Best Adapted Screenplay
BAFTA 1962
— Best International Actress
Academy Awards 1962
— Best Actress
Golden Globe 1962
— Best Actor (Drama)
Academy Awards 1962
— Best Director
Academy Awards 1962
— Best Supporting Actor
Golden Globe 1962
— Best Supporting Actor
Key opinion
Robert Rossen's The Hustler is widely regarded as a classic character study that transcends its sports drama premise to explore themes of obsession, self-destruction, and the cost of talent. While the acting and thematic depth receive near-universal acclaim, the film's pacing and the strength of the central romantic subplot elicit varying opinions.
| Acting | Paul Newman's iconic portrayal of Eddie Felson masterfully captures the evolution from a brash, arrogant prodigy to a hollowed-out, disillusioned man. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography and production design effectively utilize shadows, lighting, and smoke to mirror the grimy, claustrophobic nature of the professional gambling world. | |
| Theme | The screenplay successfully shifts the focus from the technical aspects of billiards to the psychological ruin and internal moral conflicts of its characters. | |
| Pacing | The film's deliberate, often slow-burn pacing is seen by some as an immersive atmospheric choice, while others find the narrative progression to be overly sluggish. | |
| Screenplay | The romantic subplot between Eddie and Sarah is polarized; some critics praise the tragic emotional stakes, while others find the character arc of the woman unconvincing or thin. |