The Sting
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Movie Reviews of The Sting
Movie Review: "That's what you get for playing with your head up your ass"
Summary: 5 Stars
Okay, I'll cut straight to the chase with this one. What a storming film this is. I distinctly recall, after having taped it for the first time from the TV, asking the video if it fancied coming back to my place for coffee and cigars, and later perhaps something extra upstairs (wink-wink, nudge-nudge). This film is outstanding. Robert Shaw plays a terrifying villain (Lanaghan), and Paul Newman and Robert Redford are, as usual, perfectly casted together. It's easy to see why this movie scored seven oscars when it was released. The plot is unbelievably complex and clever. You'll curse yourself endlessly for being led down the wrong path, as there's so many twists and turns in it, it rivals Charles Dickens' Great Expectations in sheer brilliance of plot.
NOTHING in this film should ever be taken for granted initially. For example, we are treated right from the start with this kind of brilliance, when Redford and his conman comrade "sting" someone out of money, apparently over an injured man lying in the street. Only to find later this man is in fact a third conman. Brilliant!
The plot would require several encyclopaedic volumes to explain, so I'll give an incredibly brief version of it:
It's the 1930's Great American Financial Failure, and the Chicago underworld is full of conmen all ready to take cash in hand following devious plots to get it in the first place. Robert Redford, and his close friend "Luther" are initially small time conmen, and steal an unsuspecting crooks wallet, only to find it contains 3000 dollars intended for the crime kingpin Lanaghan. Luther falls foul of Lanaghan's hitmen, but Redford escapes, eventuall making his way to Los Angeles where he meets up with a legendary conman Henry Gondorph (Paul Newman), though he has his doubts about hs prowess. An ingenious plot is devised to take revenge on Lanaghan for his murder of their mutual friend Luther. Highly amusing comic events then ensue (notably a scene on a cross-state train in which Gondorph steals 10000 dollars from Lanaghans wallet then uses it to beat him at cards). Danger and friendships threaten the "Sting"'s success to the very last, leading to a surprise ending.
Brilliant acting from all involved, who seem destined to play their parts, and the whole movie remains colourful, action packed and hilarious in what could have been a potentially dry screen outing. This is one of those 20-30 defining films which help us to evaluate our obsession with cinema and events, and I'd definitely want to take it to the grave with me. (Oh, and listen out for the clever manipulation of the "Entertainer" music score throughout the whole movie, cleverly manipulated at times of tension).
Oh, and, as per usual, the DVD is laden with exciting goodies which I'll let you discover for yourself.
Movie Review: A clever and enjoyable movie! One of the greatest!
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first saw this film, it was one of the best films that I've seen that took place during and early time of the twentieth century. George Roy Hill made the right choice in choosing to pack together Robert Redford and Paul Newman again, because both actors really know how to keep humor in a film. Brilliant aged look in the photography by veteren three time Oscar winner Robert Surtees, for which he was nominated for an Oscar, but one of the best things about the film is its music score. I had never heard of Scott Joplin until this film, and I finally figured out who wrote The Entertainer. Marvin Hamlisch magnificentally adapted the famous Joplin rags and written some of his own material, which fit the time of the film well, for which he also won and Oscar. I noticed in other reviews that most people are complaining all about one thing, how the DVD is released only in "PAN and SCAN". I put that in quotation marks because this film, if you take a closer look, was shot in a 35mm format that has a 1:33.1 ratio. You can tell by the way the screen usually looks so small, where if it was in a Panavision look, people would appear huge in a full screen format. If you guys bought that little paragraph you read before the film that this film was reduced from its "regular format", then you should tell Universal that not all movies were made in widescreen. If you look closely before The Sting goes into the action after the credits, you can see bars that wouldn't really be noticeable, because the film was never meant to be that way. Even when you watch the credits, you can see a 35mm size square, and since DVDs never lie (it tells you what screen format) why can't you people notice this? So shut up, and stop thinking that the film was made in a 1:85 ratio or any other, because it wasn't filmed in a widescreen process. Universal has a tendency to say that certain movies are something else that they're not. If you don't understand what I mean, then take a look at the DVD, All Quiet on the Western Front, and keep in mind that the film was made in 1930. In the meantime, enjoy this movie, because its one that gets better each time you watch. You might have to watch it twice, because the film has so many twists that a couple of them are hard to see in time.Movie Review: WHY NOT GET THE FACTS BEFORE COMPLAINING???
Summary: 5 Stars
I just bought this DVD for my father because this movie IS a classic, no matter what anyone says. But, when it came in the mail, I was surprised to see "Full Screen" on the front of the box. So I did what many of you did NOT do (with the exception of reviewer cammonro dated Sept 2, 2003), I went to the Universal web site and emailed their Home Entertainment division.
From Universal Studios Home Entertainment:
'The Sting' is only available on DVD in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio, which in this case displays the same picture information side-to-side as was seen theatrically. Also, more information is shown top-to-bottom than in the theatrical version because of the way the film was originally shot.
One process used in creating movies for theatrical exhibition is to place 'mattes' over the top and bottom of the 35 mm film frame to alter the aspect ratio to 1.85:1 'Widescreen.' To avoid black letterboxing bars on the top and bottom of the picture when it is displayed on standard television, the original mattes are removed in a process known as 'Open Matte.' (This is not to be confused with 'Pan & Scan,' a completely different process of transferring film to Video and DVD.) 'Open Matte' was used with in the production of 'The Sting.'
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. For all of you complaining about how this DVD is PAN-AND-SCAN, you are WRONG. And for all of you still waiting for WIDESCREEN, you ALREADY HAVE IT with this DVD if you understand what Universal is saying above; you are actually seeing MORE than what you'd see in the theater version because of the "Open Matte" process Universal used, NOT pan-and-scan.
If anyone begs to differ with these facts, argue with the source, Universal.
Movie Review: "Ya Follow?"
Summary: 5 Stars
Even better than there first outing together, Robert Redford, Paul Newman and Director George Roy Hill, would team up to deliever one of the best films ever. The Sting was a critical and box-office hit from the begining. Robert Redford (Johnny Hooker) has never played the big con and still doesn't find a reason until a close friend and fellow conman is killed. After this Hooker goes to find the great Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) to help him bring down the cruel yet smart Chicago Mob Boss, Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw.) What follows is one of the best set up's ever! And the poker game played between Gondorff and Lonnegan and several other men is among the best ever put on film. However Hooker is always trying to stay one step ahead of a local cop who is trying to catch him in something so he can bring him in and possibly make the big bust! Hooker just seems to have a nose for trouble as he gets involved with a women from a local diner and nearly gets killed several times! As all this happens Gondorff and Hooker are trying to get the perfect "Sting" set up to bring down as much of Lonnegan as possible. Then the FBI gets into the show and it seems like everything is over and for good reason. But I won't tell what happens, because it would be telling one of the best endings ever! Followed by a solid supporting cast that includes Harold Gould, Charles Durning, and Ray Walston. A winner of 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture (1973) and Best Director (Hill) it also won for Best Original Screenplay, Art/Set Decoration, Score, Editing and Costume. Almost 30 years later it still delievers the goods and never gets out, always revealing something new each time you see it! Grade:AMovie Review: LOTS OF "FUNNY MONEY"
Summary: 5 Stars
What a great movie. The action in this movie seems real even though the money eluding the Chicago mobster Lonegan is fake. And there's a lot of action in this movie, so much so, that I was glad my mother was around to translate these 1930's grifters'/con artists' street talk. (My parents saw this movie in the theatre when it first came out in 1973). I don't remember much or any cursing. As another reviewer noted, what little adult material there is in this movie is mild by today's standards; the story line would keep your attention regardless. Times were tough in those depression years, my mom commenting that there was a lot of crime going on then. But Lonegan (Robert Shaw) is a straight-laced mobster, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, doesn't chase women. His only weakness is gambling, especially betting on horses. Doesn't sound so bad, yet he hates to lose, and when he loses big money, he kills. His chief sins are unseen, except by those grifters, like Redford and Newman, who dare to interrupt his extortion racket. This movie won a lot of oscars in 1973, and is ranked by AFI as one of the top 400 films. Redford and Newman are so much fun to watch acting together. The last scene fooled me. Although no actors won any oscars for this film, the movie won Best Picture, Best Director among other awards. I can't really comment on the film quality of the dvd, since I saw it on a cable station. I defer to those reviewers who argue that the director wanted to film the movie the old fashioned way which accounts for the transfer problems/complaints. I just love a good story, this one's a keeper.