Best Pictures #04: The Sting

Sorry for the extended absence, I totally didn't forget to write about these movies or anything... Anyways, ever since I was little, I have always had a soft spot for books and movies that have some form of a big reveal. Most prominent in mysteries and whodunnits, this storytelling device is also excellent in courtroom dramas such as '12 Angry Men' or 'Legally Blonde,' and the pure childlike joy I get when all the dots suddenly begin to connect and the pieces fall into place cannot be understated. It is because of this fondness of mine that 'The Sting' continues to impress me the longer I think back on it. I remember my dad showing me this film (one of his all-time favorites) when I was maybe 10 years old and, while I certainly did not pick up on all the many pieces and facets of this movie, I was still blown away by it then, a feeling which is magnified upon my rewatch over a decade later.

'The Sting' is a film made in 1973, directed by George Roy Hill who previously directed Robert Redford and Paul Newman in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' just four years earlier. The film centers around an aspiring con man (Redford) and a pro (Newman) in their efforts to avenge a mutual friend's murder by swindling the crime boss responsible so sneakily he won't even know he was conned. As you might have guessed from that brief summary, this film has a lot of twists and turns and leaves you demanding a rewatch almost the moment the credits begin rolling. It's a film that feels intelligent without feeling snobbish about it, and I'll explain why. This film has A LOT of details and exposition and it delivers all of it so smoothly that it's neither boring nor confusing. I remember seeing this film when I was maybe ten years old and I still picked up on who all of these people were, where their allegiances lie, and what selective part they play in the con pretty well. This is arguably one of the biggest pitfalls for films that try to replicate what 'The Sting' does, as most either confuse the audience or wind up boring them with all the set-up. The editing, direction and clever writing in this regard are a masterclass.

I cannot go any further without mentioning just how good all of the acting is in this film. Obviously, Redford and Newman knock it out of the park, their on-screen chemistry is the stuff of legend in Hollywood, but every single member of the supporting cast absolutely kills their parts as well. Robert Shaw is pitch perfect as the intimidating but calculated crime boss Lonnergan, and I would argue this is his second best performance ever, second only to 'Jaws' of course. So many of the supporting cast fit their roles so well it's as if the screenplay was written with them in mind, and they all fit like puzzle pieces into the big picture spectacularly.

Lastly, there is no talking about 'The Sting' without talking about the music. Marvin Hamlisch's adaptation and use of Scott Joplin's iconic ragtime piano music has become so engrained in the American consciousness that you'd be hard-pressed to find a single person that has never heard the music used in this film. This film did an excellent job at helping to revive Joplin's music, and he remains one of the most iconic American composers of the 20th century to this day. And while 'The Entertainer' may be what everyone thinks of when they think of this movie, Hamlisch wrote most of the music to this film on his own, using the stylings of ragtime players to influence the highs and lows of this movie's story, and bringing forth some delightful orchestrations of Joplin's music on top of that. On a side note, when I was in Washington DC last year, the Library of Congress had Hamlisch's Oscar from this film on display (seen below) and seeing that in person was incredible for this movie nerd!

And now for the final judgment: did this film deserve to win Best Picture? Well looking at it's competition I am personally very torn. In 1973, 'The Sting' was up against 'American Graffiti,' 'A Touch of Class,' 'Cries and Whispers,' and a little film called 'The Exorcist.' It's frankly difficult to imagine a film that has had more of an impact on Hollywood than 'The Exorcist,' and fifty years later it's easy to see why. It was a massive box office hit, adjusted for inflation it would have grossed over a billion dollars, and it still remains one of the most impressively made genre films of all time. But does that make it more deserving than one of the best crime dramas ever made? If I were personally voting, I would have probably voted for 'The Sting,' but just like 'Gladiator,' this is truly a case where either film winning is alright by me, because I appreciate and respect both of them a lot!

Rating: 9/10

Did it Deserve Best Picture: Tough competition but yes it did!