This is one of my very favorite movies. It's wonderful! The twist and turns keep you guessing until the very end, even if you've seen it before! The movie does get a little dark in places BUT it's mostly just a great time. The cons keep on coming. My favorite part is when two of the guys working for Neuman and Redford go into an office building dressed as painters. They kick the gentleman working in the office out because they say they will paint it. They change their clothes from painter to businessman, change around some photos around and viola! They have a seemingly legit office space. Once Lonnegan sees that they are legit, the two con men bail leaving the room half painted for the poor office guy to return to. It's just a really well thought out film. The Sting has been a Wolf Family classic, so much so that my brother Josh could be heard playing the film's theme, "The Entertainer" on the piano at all hours of the day. I can still hear it when it's really quiet….
What a pleasure it is to see the perfect chemistry of Newman
and Redford back together again for The
Sting. This is like the original Riggs and Murtaugh or the best example of a
“buddy movie” I can think of, second only to their own Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Everyone seems to remember the
lighter-hearted moments and the toe-tapping score of Scott Joplin’s ragtime but
I had almost forgotten that there are some intense moments, too. Robert Shaw’s
Doyle Lonnegan is a scary dude that kills several people- it’s a little like
his later Jaws character except
without humor or charm and extra helpings of crazy. Several humorous
double-crosses and tricks between cops and robbers lead to the big con, a very
satisfying, surprising and enjoyable conclusion that ensures this film’s
classic status. I’d say more, but I don’t want to spoil the surprises and the
fun of this great film.
Just prior to Elizabeth Taylor's presentation of the Best Picture Oscar for this film, the streaker Robert Opel darted across the stage as David Niven was introducing her. (see photo above)It was this incident (among others) that inspired singer Ray Stevens to write the song "The Streak" that went to the top of the US charts the month after the awards.
Luther: How much did you lose?
Johnny Hooker: [winces] All of it.
Luther: In one damn night? What are you spraying money around like that for, you could've been nailed.
Johnny Hooker: I checked the place first. There were no dicks in there.
Luther: But you're a con man! And you blew it like a pimp!
No comments:
Post a Comment