8.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.3 |
An up-and-coming pool player plays a long-time champion in a single high-stakes match.
Starring: Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Myron McCormickDrama | 100% |
Romance | 9% |
Sport | 7% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.34:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (Original) (224 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
French: DTS 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
German: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Swedish, Thai
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
When Paul Newman died in 2008, he was such a cultural icon that it was hard to remember there was a time when he was just another actor. While Newman slowly but surely cemented his status as a leading man on the rise with a number of films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and while several of his early films were immensely popular, he probably didn’t erupt into true superstardom until circa 1967-69, with such films as Cool Hand Luke and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. From that time on, of course, he became a commodity of sorts, an actor who regularly not only received high praise for his work, but maintained an incredible popularity with the movie going public. Newman grew into a directing career and then of course really became a commodity with his brand of food items which are still sold today, with profits going to charities. How many actors can you list whose names are synonymous with popcorn and marinara sauce? But in 1961, when Robert Rossen’s The Hustler came out, Newman was just one of several handsome young leading men who were still staking out their careers. Newman had made an impression in several films by that time, both for good (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Exodus) and ill (The Silver Chalice). But probably no one was prepared for the depth and nuance he brought to his role as Fast Eddie Felson, a conniving pool shark on the make to prove himself the best at his stock in trade. Rossen, a fascinating writer-director who was one of the few left-leaning artists to survive the House Unamerican Activities inquisition, brought a dark and frankly depressing ambience to this film, one of the most morally decrepit and troubling movies of its era. But perhaps Rossen's most amazing achievement is how he peeled back layers of s the inherently sunny Newman demeanor to let it become imbued with a streak of sinister contempt, even outright viciousness, an approach that colored this film in unexpected ways and helped to cement its reputation as a modern classic.
The Hustler looks absolutely gorgeous on Blu-ray courtesy of an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.34:1. The film's special edition DVD from a few years ago looked pretty spectacular itself, and that same sharpness and clarity is only increased on this new release. There is virtually no damage, save for some very, very minor issues, on the source elements and the richness of the blacks is really amazing at times. Contrast is exceptional, and fine detail is completely intact with a very natural looking grain structure. Fox has done itself proud once again with this release. Rossen's insistence to film The Hustler on location pays off incredibly well, and the grimy aspect of the city and the pool halls is virtually palpable on this new release. Shadow detail is also quite remarkable at times, bringing new dimension into the murky scenes during the showdown segments. This film won a well deserved Oscar for its black and white cinematography, and The Hustler's gorgeously gritty look is fully on display on this new Blu-ray.
Some may accuse me of being a little churlish with my score of The Hustler's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix, but the fact is the limitations of the source stems simply can't be overcome. The boxiness of the sound is apparent from Alfred Newman's iconic 20th Century Fox fanfare on, and in fact the lossless audio only seems to highlight the narrow, tinny sound that was readily apparent on previous home video releases of The Hustler. OK, that's the bad news. The good news is, if you can get past that unappealing processed sound, Kenyon Hopkins' evocative score has never sounded better, and the 5.1 repurposing is really rather artful, with well positioned environmental effects and excellent, if not overwhelming, immersion. Dialogue is crisp and clear and the overall mix is very pleasing. The original mono mix of the film, delivered in Dolby Digital 2.0, is also available.
There is a wealth of supplemental content on this Blu-ray, including everything (save for the Stills Gallery) from the previously released 2 DVD Special Edition, as well as several new items. The new items are:
Bolstered by a quartet of simply amazing performances (Newman, Laurie, Gleason, Scott), this is an acting tour de force the likes of which must have amazed 1961 audiences. The film's achievement is so shattering that the depth, nuance and power of those performances seems hardly diminished by the intervening years. Though The Hustler is undeniably seedy, it's a gritty, grimy look at desperate characters trying to carve out a piece of their own twisted version of the American Dream. It's sad, it's compelling and it is completely and utterly unforgettable. Very highly recommended.
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1927
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2004
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De rouille et d'os
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