Paul Newman. Robert Redford. Two of the most iconic stars in Hollywood's history. These two also gave Hollywood two of it's most iconic movies: "Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid" (1969)... and 1973's "The Sting"...
After his mentor Luthor is killed for grifting money from a local mobster, Johnny Hooker seeks out Henry Gondorff to exact some revenge. The two concoct what will go down in history as "The Big Con"... provided the cops and the mobster's assassin don't get them first...
This is a movie where you have to pay some attention to it, as the plot is complex, and involves twists that make you wondering what's going to happen next. Just when you think you've got it all sorted, a new wrinkle is added, and the wonderful texture of the story evolves further. It was hard to let my attention wander while watching this film. Marvelous storytelling.
The story depth is enhanced and coloured beautifully by the characters. Hooker and Gondorff are both likable, while also being flawed and three dimensional. You learn about them as the movie goes on, and can relate to them on certain levels. The two of them anchor the movie, and provide a solid foundation for all of the other supporting characters. Snyder, Lonnegan, Polk, Kid Twist, etc are all great as well, and help to flesh out the world and story wonderfully.
Of course, the characters would be nothing without great actors behind them. Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, Charles Durning, Harold Gould, Dimitra Arliss. Amazingly skillful performers that brought life, energy, and depth to their roles. They all came together to create a bright world filled with colourful characters and capers. Absolutely stunning performances.
The look of the film is simply wonderful. The costumes and sets are as much characters in some ways as the people walking amongst them. The world building is simply astounding- as is the film editing. The camera work and editing creates a smooth, slick pace to the story that pulls you along without you noticing the passing of time. I loved the use of title cards to break up the story into its segments the way old silent movies did. Really added to the period feel of things.
I also really liked the use of Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer"- even though Ragtime was from the decade before the events in the movie. The music brought a layer of energy to the film that was infectious and quite enjoyable.
"The Sting" is a wonderful movie that I think most people would enjoy. It is one of those films that in some ways is truly a timeless classic. If you get the chance, watch it. You won't regret it. I'm giving it a spot in "The Good".
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