The Hustler vs. West Side Story
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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.
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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.
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kag2 — 9 years ago(December 04, 2016 08:50 AM)
I would guess that if it were voted on today, the Hustler would beat West Side Story in a landslide. Somehow a gritty, realistic story involving gambling, sex, hustling, and too many cigarettes would probably overwhelm a glorifying and too peaceful (at least by today's realities) gang tale.
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LorqVonRay1999 — 1 year ago(December 15, 2024 07:07 AM)
I knew almost nothing about The Hustler when I picked it up a few weeks ago, other than it was about pool and starred Paul Newman.
I did not expect it to be a masterpiece.
I enjoyed watching West Side Story a lot but The Hustler is the better film. The direction, the story, the cinematography are all better and certainly the acting.
Newman, Laurie, Scott and the perfectly cast Gleason as Minnesota Fats were all brilliant and better than anyone in West Side Story. I also recognized a very young Murray Hamilton, who I know best as the mayor in Jaws.
10/10 -
huwdj — 1 year ago(December 15, 2024 10:10 AM)
I'm not sure you can meaningfully compare the two films. They are both excellent examples of completely different genres and for me, choosing the 'better film' would probably come down to what mood I was in at the time.
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