The Hustler vs. West Side Story
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RazzberryBeret — 15 years ago(September 16, 2010 10:14 PM)
It's an apples and oranges situation, which is why probably so many artists feel that awards are irrelevant. Subjective works of art cannot be compared beyond a point. Personally, I would have gone with The Hustler, but West Side Story was a superior musical that struck a chord with massive audiences everywhere. Newman and his films lost out time and time again to such populist choices. Maybe indirectly, this is a tribute to him as a risk-taking actor, who knows.
But I will say this as a fan of Robert Wise - West Side Story and The Sound of Music carry far more resonance than the empty-vessel musicals being rewarded nowadays. I mean, Dreamgirls? The music stunk, the singing (read screeching) jarred, the screenplay was heavy-handed, the acting barring a couple of performances sucked. Most over-rated musical of all time. Even Chicago, however dazzling, was emotionally cold with no repeat value. Zeta-Jones was over-rated and predictably, awarded. Zellweger and the production design made that movie worthwhile. -
mjz688 — 15 years ago(October 24, 2010 09:07 AM)
I think UK Scott pretty much nailed it. Personally, I find WSS almost unwatchable, while The Hustler is one of my favorite films. But the essential point is that WSS represented the apex of musicals' popularity, which, except for isolated examples such as the Sound of Music, soon entered a long, steady decline. The Hustler, meanwhile, highlighted the gritty realism and anti-hero ethos that under-pinned Hollywood's 1970s Golden Age.
"I killed the president of Paraguay with a fork. How've you been?" -
boxerrebellion — 10 years ago(April 06, 2015 09:46 PM)
I agree. Chicago has some great music and the potential for great dance numbers. I've only seen it done by local theatre groups, but except for the sets (can a stage production, especially at that level really compete with Hollywood?) the local group was a better production - the singing and dance numbers were excellent. The Chicago movie was too excited about what they COULD do with the camera rather than a stage that they forgot to ask what they SHOULD do (to paraphrase Jurassic Park's Dr. Malcolm.).
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m-slovak79 — 15 years ago(December 11, 2010 01:20 AM)
The Hustler vs. West Side Story
i have not seen 'West Side Story' but i would bet money ill like The Hustler more
Newman just has a commanding screen presence in The Hustler which makes it a great film. his characters passion is just great to watch, it never gets old watching The Hustler. (and not to mention the 1986 sequel 'The Color of Money')
but then again i think it probably boils down to if your a girl or guy i don't suspect to many guys would actually like a musical type show over something like The Hustler. not saying some guys can't appreciate that stuff, at times, but generally speaking i think musicals are ALMOST exclusively for girls.
p.s. i am a 31 year old guy.My Vote History
http://imdb.to/b5rrNh -
JellyFish19 — 15 years ago(December 29, 2010 02:11 PM)
Just saw "The Hustler" for the first time. It had it's ups and downs, but all in all it was a powerful movie. However with "West Side Story" I felt the real magic of cinema, something only a few movies can make me feel. I'm glad for every Oscar that it won.
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sametic — 14 years ago(May 31, 2011 01:32 PM)
Gone with the Wind was the first to pull off that trick (check out the other 1939 nominees and films).
As a film, The Hustler easily surpasses West Side Story in at least a dozen categories. However, West Side Story is in fact a brilliant film that has since become an irrefutable icon of Americana, so I can't fault the Academy for giving it Best Picture.
Frankly, it's one of the few times the Academy has gotten it right, as films typically win predicated on the politics of the business while more important work either gets buried under more competitive Oscar marketing, suckerpunched by pandering to voters, or completely snubbed for specious reasons.
Regardless of the winning film's merits, time usually clarifies the matter. For recent examples, Forrest Gump beat Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, and Quiz Show in 95, all of which are widely considered superior films. The Departed similarly beat out several superior films in 07, one of which was completely snubbed over conflicting year-of-release and sociopolitical issues, despite arguably being one of the most important films of the new millennium (V for Vendetta). -
boxerrebellion — 10 years ago(April 06, 2015 09:51 PM)
I just recently saw Judgement and Hustler for the first time, but have seen WSS many times since my childhood. Although Judgement and Hustler are both great, after just the one viewing, I have to say I agree with you about Judgement being the better film of the two. I actually prefer Newman in Exodus, BUT I just didn't care for his character in Hustler - it wasn't a good guy/bad guy thing - he just seemed to lack his usual charm.
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LukeLovesFilm28 — 9 years ago(January 02, 2017 01:39 PM)
Are you actually suggesting that GWTW, the most popular film ever produced didn't deserve to win Best Picture in 1939? We're not talking Jezebel here. We're talking about the greatest performance by an actress in film history. We're talking about one of the most elaborate and expensive productions ever. It's almost Oscar bait for all its worth.
Get off your soapbox while I play you a tune on the tiniest violin. -
seahawk3133 — 11 years ago(February 20, 2015 09:06 AM)
It isn't close - The Hustler was well superior to West Side Story.
The problem I had with West Side Story was the main two characters had zero chemistry and it is more believable that Brooklyn Decker has feelings for me than believing those two do for each other.
The Hustler was gritty, real with no sugar added
West Side Story had the wimpiest gangs ever and forced romance - too unbelievable
I haven't seen Fanny yet but The Hustler should have won the Oscar based on the others
Hustler - 8/10
West Side - 3 /10 -
eqxander — 11 years ago(March 13, 2015 01:13 AM)
The problem is, rating 1961 movies in 2015 in terms of the 1961 Oscar isn't fair. Today, The Hustler may speak to us more because the culture and situations the movie portrays feel realas opposed to the documentary feel that Judgement at Nurenburg has, or the somewhat complete unreality West Side Story has today.
But it is impossible to relate the degree to which WSS was a cultural phenomenon back then. The songs, the dancing, and even the cultural situation was on the top of most Americans' minds. Even today, I dare you to watch the movie and not walk away humming one of the tunes. And while the gang violence portrayed in the movie seems quaint today, America was waking up to the idea that its teenagers weren't completely content to follow in their parent's footsteps, and it vindicated their discomfort when tragedy struck.
Even in 1961, pool halls were becoming a thing of the past especially in urban America.
That's not to take away anything from this film. I just saw it for the first time, and was totally blown away by the acting particularly Piper Laurie, perhaps because unlike the other main actors, Newman, Scott, and Gleason, her career was so much more subdued.
To me, both films seem to capture the death of a genre. The Hustler, the great film noirs that depicted life in all its grit, angst, and depth. And WSS of the musical spectaculars, though certainly some of both survived for a few more years.
All in all, though, I'd have to give the nod to West Side Story as the better movie by a hair, in toto, though by far, The Hustler has the better acting. -
boxerrebellion — 10 years ago(April 06, 2015 09:55 PM)
I almost thought of Hustler as noir, but I've just started catching noirs on TCM in the last couple of years and wasn't sure it was. The gritty feel felt noirish, but most of the noir I've seen involve thriller/crime/espionage elements.
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kag2 — 10 years ago(May 19, 2015 08:14 PM)
I wasn't all that impressed with Judgement at Nuremberg, and being a history buff that was an added disappointment. But I would rate it above West Side Story.
I'd still vote for The Hustler. But I guess it's debatable -
degree7 — 10 years ago(June 23, 2015 12:26 AM)
I really like West Side Story, but the Academy's penchant for voting Best Picture for musicals in the 60s was really over the top!
West Side Story won for '61, My Fair Lady for '64, Sound of Music '65, and Oliver! in '68. Pretty ridiculous.
~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here. -
poetcomic1 — 9 years ago(June 02, 2016 04:05 PM)
There is something so stale, dated and unpleasant about West Side Story - I could not watch it again if you paid me. The Hustler I just started watching a few minutes on Netflix and had to watch it right through to the end - again! As often is the case with Oscars - time will tell.