1961
Directed by Robert Rossen
This is a film that my family has loved for a long time. We actually had posters of this film right next to our pool table in the house that I grew up in. I suppose we believed that that would make us as cool as Paul Newman when we played pool. It didn't.
Paul Newman plays Fast Eddie Felson, a pool hustler who is determined to beat Minnesota Fats (god I love these names). Along the way, he meets Sarah, a girl who has some, um, issues.
This is a fantastic gritty film that will make anyone who watches want to go out and buy a pool stick. This could have easily been an extremely dull movie; I mean 134 minutes of pool playing could have gotten old fast. Paul Newman manages to keep his character real and interesting throughout the duration of the film. I don't know if it is his innate awesomeness or the great chemistry he had with the others actors but the result was fantastic.
As for Sarah, I can't talk too much about her without giving too much away. Suffice to say, you don't see a lot of characters like her.
My favorite Paul Newman movie by far.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
All of the pool shots except for one were shot by the actors.
One of the few early Hollywood movies to have a pre credits sequence.
