As I write this fully in the fog of my post-Thanksgiving food coma, I am thankful for all the great movies made over the years (and even many terrible ones). I am thankful that I get to write about them once a month. I am thankful for everyone who reads these (even though you can collectively fit inside an SUV). This month I set out to write about my highest-rated Best Picture winner (to keep with the theme) that I had not yet written about. But nobody wants to read about Schindler’s List (a truly brilliant film at #13 overall on my list, but in no way fun to discuss). Instead, you get the second highest rated yet to be written about – the significantly more fun The Sting (1973, dir. George Roy Hill).
The Sting is the story of two conmen in Chicago in the 1930s. One of them, small-time grifter Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford in what is still remarkably his only Oscar-nominated performance), unknowingly steals from Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw), a big-time gangster. Lonnegan kills Hooker’s partner and is looking to do the same to Hooker. With a mind for revenge, Hooker seeks out Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman), a long-time conman with much more experience in working a big operation – the kind needed to truly get back at Lonnegan. After some convincing, the two men then must set up and operate their sting operation, avoid capture by the corrupt Chicago cops and the ever-present FBI, and avoid getting killed by Lonnegan’s assassins.
One of the most fun rides you can take with a movie, The Sting gives you top-notch performances from everyone, but the undeniable chemistry and superstardom from Newman and Redford is really where the film excels. Shaw deftly does his part as a guy you can easily root against. The plot twists and turns may be a little easier to see now that they have been replicated a hundred times in the five decades since, but they are still fun to watch. The vibrant costumes and Scott Joplin-inspired score keep things interesting for all the senses. It also has my personal favorite poker scene ever captured on film. As part of the setup for the larger sting to come, Gondorff beautifully cheats Lonnegan in a train car poker game. Just in that ten-minute scene, there are about seven amazingly fun quotes.
If you like a film that leans into its style and then uses that style to enhance the end product, this is a great one for you. Hill (one of seven Oscar winners for the film) creates several episodes in the film, broken up by title cards effectively chaptering off the acts. Couple that skillful mini-film idea with one of the finest screenplays ever created and you have a masterpiece on your hands. If you find yourself lazing around the house over the holidays, maybe give The Sting a watch. I promise you will not feel like you have been conned.
FUN FACT – Robert Shaw’s trademark limp for Doyle Lonnegan was a real injury. Just prior to shooting, Shaw tore the ligaments in his knee playing handball. Rather than be forced to back out, the filmmakers gave him a limp and he wore a brace throughout filming – adding a bit of menace to bad guy character.
Just Watch says that The Sting is not currently streaming on any service. It is available for rent/purchase on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
As a reminder, here is the original post that details the scores and weighting system.