Robert Rossen directs Paul Newman, George C Scott and Piper Laurie in this dark drama about a pool shark who meets his match.

What if you weren’t the best? What if you thought you were the best and then discovered you were only second best? A on meeting your match your world fell apart? See Amadeus. See Toy Story. The Hustler goes for the Toy Story option. There is deconstruction, staring into the abyss, breakdown, rejection… and then rebirth, grudging respect, competition as a new man… one rebuilt from the depths of despair but back stronger than ever. It is an incredible arc for Newman, the star and the actor. The movie works everything he has, in a milieu that feels both lived in and fantastical. The support cast is superb – Scott, Laurie, Myron McCormick and Jackie Gleason. All vampires and victims. Sucking on and being drained by each other for money, validation, knowledge, companionship, status and love. There isn’t one trustworthy relationship in The Hustler. The pool table is the only space with rules: rules of the game, rules of physics, even rules to the swindles. They have form, boundaries, laws and expectations. Life… the human stuff… that is nastier, more chaotic. A lover can be cruel and callous, a father figure can be predatory, a backer prefers sticking the knife in over winning. It can be a horrible world being a hustler, in this movie of inhumane humanity.

10

Perfect Double Bill: The Color of Money (1986)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/