THE VERDICT - 1982
RATED - R for language. Mostly early in the movie in onc scene a number of 'f' words. Pretty minor after that. No sex or nudity. One incident of violence where a woman is slapped across the face and shown with bloody nose.
RATINGS - 94 Amazon (5/5), 252.718 Netflix (3.8/5), 10,518 IMDB (7.7/10).
STARRING - Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, James Mason, Jack Warden.
AWARDS - Five 1983 Academy Award and four Golden Globe nominations including BEST PICTURE and BEST ACTOR.
THEMES - Justice, relationships.
STORY - The film opens with down and out attorney Frank Galvin (Newman) spending his day the way he usually does - with alcohol and playing pin ball games. A former editor of his college law review and partner in a prestigious law firm, he is now an ambulance chaser and alcoholic. A professional lapse in judgment which led to almost being disbarred and to the end of his marriage has taken its toll. A friend and former colleague, Mickey Morrissey (Warden) refers him a 'softball' case which should easily settle out of court with the insurance company for a nice fee. With only ten days before the case goes to court (Frank has forgotten) his conscience starts to bother Frank and he really believes he can go to court and win, contrary to the client's wishes and everyone else's advice. What follows is a fascinating courtroom drama as well as character study. Enough surprises and twists to keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. One of Newman's more overlooked gems. If you like legal thrillers and courtroom drama, this is a classic. Great supporting performances from Mason, Warden and Rampling.
LINKS - IMDB/TRAILER
Showing posts with label Paul Newman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paul Newman. Show all posts
Saturday, May 29, 2010
THE HUSTLER
THE HUSTLER - 1961
RATED - NR but probably PG-13. Almost every scene involves alcohol and adult topics. There is no foul language, sex or nudity. There is some minor violence, mostly partially hidden or off screen.
RATINGS - 115 Amazon (4.5/5), 337,363 Netflix (4.0/5), 24,464 IMDB (8.2/10)
STARRING - Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George Scott, Piper Laurie and Myron McCormick.
AWARDS - Nine Academy Award Nominations including BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS and two BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR. BAFTA BEST PICTURE award and several Golden Globe nominations including BEST ACTOR.
THEMES - Relationships, justice.
STORY - The film opens with a typical scene in a day of the lives of 'Fast Eddie' (Newman) and Charlie (McCormick). Another small town stop pretending to be salesman with car trouble on their way to a sales award convention so they need to spend a few hours at the local pool hall while their car is being worked on. They go into their routine to 'setup' the locals for the big hustle and at the end of the day the locals are a few hundred dollars lighter. The ultimate goal is to 'hustle' the mighty one, Minnesota Fats (Gleason) who hasn't been beaten in 15 years. The big match lasts 36 grueling hours and several bottles of booze. The cocky, swaggering Eddie has met his match but it wasn't the pool skills that did him in. Can he recover or is he the 'born loser' that Bert Gordon (Scott), the 'Fat Man's manager and professional gambler, accuses him of being? Sarah (Laurie) enters the picture and can two 'born losers' rehabilitate each other? The acting is outstanding by all five main characters and the settings in seedy bars, bus stations and pool halls genuinely gives the feeling of life in another world where day to day survival is fueled by alcohol and nicotine and petty pursuits. Can anyone pull themselves out of this environment or are they destined to be 'born losers'? Human nature at its most raw and vulnerable. One of Newman's great performances along with Gleason, Scott and Laurie. A classic!!!
LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB/TRAILER
RATED - NR but probably PG-13. Almost every scene involves alcohol and adult topics. There is no foul language, sex or nudity. There is some minor violence, mostly partially hidden or off screen.
RATINGS - 115 Amazon (4.5/5), 337,363 Netflix (4.0/5), 24,464 IMDB (8.2/10)
STARRING - Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George Scott, Piper Laurie and Myron McCormick.
AWARDS - Nine Academy Award Nominations including BEST PICTURE, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS and two BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR. BAFTA BEST PICTURE award and several Golden Globe nominations including BEST ACTOR.
THEMES - Relationships, justice.
STORY - The film opens with a typical scene in a day of the lives of 'Fast Eddie' (Newman) and Charlie (McCormick). Another small town stop pretending to be salesman with car trouble on their way to a sales award convention so they need to spend a few hours at the local pool hall while their car is being worked on. They go into their routine to 'setup' the locals for the big hustle and at the end of the day the locals are a few hundred dollars lighter. The ultimate goal is to 'hustle' the mighty one, Minnesota Fats (Gleason) who hasn't been beaten in 15 years. The big match lasts 36 grueling hours and several bottles of booze. The cocky, swaggering Eddie has met his match but it wasn't the pool skills that did him in. Can he recover or is he the 'born loser' that Bert Gordon (Scott), the 'Fat Man's manager and professional gambler, accuses him of being? Sarah (Laurie) enters the picture and can two 'born losers' rehabilitate each other? The acting is outstanding by all five main characters and the settings in seedy bars, bus stations and pool halls genuinely gives the feeling of life in another world where day to day survival is fueled by alcohol and nicotine and petty pursuits. Can anyone pull themselves out of this environment or are they destined to be 'born losers'? Human nature at its most raw and vulnerable. One of Newman's great performances along with Gleason, Scott and Laurie. A classic!!!
LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB/TRAILER
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