Review: The Sting (1973) · 6:07am Nov 5th, 2015
Just like Redford, Newman and director George Roy Hill's previous collaboration, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting proves to be a stupendously enjoyable romp that not only manages to be a supremely FUN film, but also one with a twist ending that is so awesome that I literally shouted for joy at the sight of it. Winning a well deserved Best Picture award, the film has aged beautifully, and now rightfully stands as a crown jewel of the caper genre.
With a perfectly confident and smooth eye, George Roy Hill builds an eloquent ode to the films of the 1930s, the time in which this film is set. Mixing in Old Hollywood film techniques with a New Hollywood sensibility, Hill makes a film that feels uniquely timeless, taking you along it's fun, whirl of a story with pitch perfect accuracy and grace.
David S. Ward's screenplay is awesome, filled with great banter and interactions, and a complex, yet accessable story that pulls one hell of a plot twist over on the audience in the manner of a close friend pulling a great 'Gotcha' on us. Simply put, it's great screenwriting.
Redford and Newman, as always, have impeccable interactions and chemistry, and they help make the film a joy to watch. Redford is always smooth and confident, and netted what is, so far at least, his ONLY Acting Oscar nomination, which I feel he rightly earned. Newman was unjustly snubbed as the King of Cool that he is here, and a huge shout out to Robert Shaw, who in his turn as 'The Mark', is always a smoldering ball of anger and frustration, which simultaneously manages to be legitimately threatening, while subtly comic at the same time.
The rest of the cast is a bevy of great character actors, all of whom have a ton of fun in their parts as well. Hill directs them all flawlessly, giving each actor the room to give their performances that special spark that makes them memorable.
Marvin Hamlisch's catchy and now iconic adaptations of Scott Joplin's equally iconic ragtime music is infectious, providing a whimsical undercurrent to the film that fits it's smooth talking, happy-go-lucky tone absolutely perfectly.
Suffice to say, I enjoyed this film immensely, and is now a firm favorite of mine. I wish I could go into more detail, but doing so would spoil the fun, as I don't want to ruin any of the awesome twists this film has.
A damn solid 5 out of 5 stars, and a damn solid winner for Best Picture. My hat's off to you, George Roy Hill.
