08-06-18 The Sting (1973)

Seen: June 14th (ish) 2008 and back when I was a we Lad
Format: Broadcast - HDNMV - HDNet Movies, and VHS and Network Television
Rating: 8

The soundtrack from this film was a fixture in my household as a kid. I'll always think of this film when I hear Joplin, whose music I adore.

And that's not a bad thing.

As a kid, this film was more than a touch convoluted. As an adult, that still holds true. I have a large soft spot in my heart for good con films, and this on is quintessential. As far as the genre goes, its well done, accessible and yet still holds your interest. There aren't a huge number of surprises, and those aren't that unforseeable, but it still, through shear charisma, sets its hook and plays you 'til the end. As a good con film should.

The cast is all-star, and has a great time here. Redford and Newman are classic together, with Newman more than holding his own here. Shaw is powerful and commanding. Eileen Brennan, Ray Walston, Harold Gould and a half a dozen slide deftly in to their roles, not unlike their actual characters.

Hill melds them all together into a simple and graceful melange. While the dialog isn't particularly outstanding, the flow of the scenes is graceful and fluid. The whole film has a a graceful movement that is again,subtle and deceptive. Hill's work is exemplary, particularly the way he simple gets out of the way and gives his cast and material the space to work and breathe.

The look of the film is the one thing that grates a bit for me. The whole thing feels very "back lot" to me. There's an artificiallity that hard to dismiss and ignore. Perhaps this is intentional, given the subject matter. If so, its a shame, as it serves more to draw attention rather than deflect it. Costuming is interesting and generally excellent. Edith Head's had is deft and sure here.

The soundtrack is simply amazing. The music is pure Americana, and the arrangements do it great justice.

Watching this film again after several decades was a bit of a revelation. To be honest, it wasn't nearlyas magical as it was to me as a kid. But it was also so much richer and thorough than I had the capability to appreciate at that age. There's great care and attention to detail here, and it makes the film work despite some of the design choices.

While the rating may not seem to indicate it, this film is an American classic, and definitely worth your time.

The Good: Nostalgia and One Beautiful Con
The Bad: An artificial feel
The Ugly: Sleeping with the enemy

PostScript: Check out this image.