The truth is I hadn't heard of this film until about a week ago when I noticed it whilst looking at past Oscar winners in a bit more detail. The Sting won best picture in 1973 and is currently just inside the top 100 list on IMDB with an average rating of 8.4. Worthy of a watch then, and as luck would have it a friend was able to lend me the dvd.
It stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford, otherwise known as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (an earlier film by the same director). 2 very famous names though also 2 actors I personally haven't seen a great deal of; The Hustler and it's sequel The Colour of Money, both starring Newman, are the only ones that come to mind. I've not yet even got round to seeing Butch Cassidy despite owning the dvd for a few years.
Anyway, I will have to rectify this oversight of mine as this was a very enjoyable film with the two leads playing very cool and entertaining characters who really do seem to click as a duo.
The Sting is a 'con' movie set in corrupt and depression hit 1930's Chicago; a period in history that was presumably not that nice a time for the majority of people though undoubtedly makes for compelling viewing with plenty of tommy guns and pin stripes. This film is rich in substance as well as style though, and you do have to pay close attention to keep up with the plot. It opens with Johnny Hooker (Redford) and his partner/mentor Luther in the middle of conning a man who, unbeknown to them, happens to be 'employed' in the local crime racket and was transporting a fair some of money to the big shot gangster, Lonnegan.
The score is a surprisingly big one then and the pair can't believe their luck, Luther retiring from the game and Hooker splashing out on a brand new pin-stripe suit (naturally). Their joy is short lived though as the next day Hooker finds Luther dead, murdered by Lonnegan's men as a warning to anyone who thinks stealing off him is a good idea. He is next on the hit list and with them and the local corrupt cop hot on his heels he flees town to find Gondorff (Newman), an experienced con artist who Luther had told him to look up the day before he was killed.
The pair now together they form an elaborate plan to con Lonnegan for all he's worth, the only way Hooker will be able to get revenge, and draft in a lot of old friends in order to pull it off. As you would expect for a good con film the plan is a complex one, complicated further by our corrupt cop and Lonnegan's men still in pursuit, and involves a few twists along the way.
It is a clever and stylish film full of well-acted entertaining characters, with the emphasis on the story line and not unnecessary violence. It is grittier compared to modern equivalents such as the Oceans series though has firmly stood the test of time, helped in this respect no doubt by its historical setting. How nice as well that unlike with Danny Ocean and co. there isn't a Sting 2, 3, 4... despite there being the scope to do so. Maybe milking the audience dry was lower on the agenda in 1973 and it was still possible to have a successful film left to stand alone, and all the better for it.
In summary, excellent entertainment with a couple of real star turns and a smart, genre defining story line. Now where did i put Butch Cassidy..
It stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford, otherwise known as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (an earlier film by the same director). 2 very famous names though also 2 actors I personally haven't seen a great deal of; The Hustler and it's sequel The Colour of Money, both starring Newman, are the only ones that come to mind. I've not yet even got round to seeing Butch Cassidy despite owning the dvd for a few years.
Anyway, I will have to rectify this oversight of mine as this was a very enjoyable film with the two leads playing very cool and entertaining characters who really do seem to click as a duo.
The Sting is a 'con' movie set in corrupt and depression hit 1930's Chicago; a period in history that was presumably not that nice a time for the majority of people though undoubtedly makes for compelling viewing with plenty of tommy guns and pin stripes. This film is rich in substance as well as style though, and you do have to pay close attention to keep up with the plot. It opens with Johnny Hooker (Redford) and his partner/mentor Luther in the middle of conning a man who, unbeknown to them, happens to be 'employed' in the local crime racket and was transporting a fair some of money to the big shot gangster, Lonnegan.
The score is a surprisingly big one then and the pair can't believe their luck, Luther retiring from the game and Hooker splashing out on a brand new pin-stripe suit (naturally). Their joy is short lived though as the next day Hooker finds Luther dead, murdered by Lonnegan's men as a warning to anyone who thinks stealing off him is a good idea. He is next on the hit list and with them and the local corrupt cop hot on his heels he flees town to find Gondorff (Newman), an experienced con artist who Luther had told him to look up the day before he was killed.
The pair now together they form an elaborate plan to con Lonnegan for all he's worth, the only way Hooker will be able to get revenge, and draft in a lot of old friends in order to pull it off. As you would expect for a good con film the plan is a complex one, complicated further by our corrupt cop and Lonnegan's men still in pursuit, and involves a few twists along the way.
It is a clever and stylish film full of well-acted entertaining characters, with the emphasis on the story line and not unnecessary violence. It is grittier compared to modern equivalents such as the Oceans series though has firmly stood the test of time, helped in this respect no doubt by its historical setting. How nice as well that unlike with Danny Ocean and co. there isn't a Sting 2, 3, 4... despite there being the scope to do so. Maybe milking the audience dry was lower on the agenda in 1973 and it was still possible to have a successful film left to stand alone, and all the better for it.
In summary, excellent entertainment with a couple of real star turns and a smart, genre defining story line. Now where did i put Butch Cassidy..
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