Directed by Robert Rossen
Written by Sidney Carroll and Robert Rossen
Trailer
IMDB

The Hustler is a movie I didn't know existed until earlier this week. The Color of Money is the sequel to this, and also one of my favorite movies. Paul Newman's character Fast Eddie Felson is the subject of both of these movies. These flicks are part pool hustle and part character study. The co-mingling of the two is phenomenal.
This movie is deliberately slow. It doesn't rush anything and it leads you astray at sometimes, while at other times the plot points it indicates do take place, sometimes with a surprising twist.
Nearly every actor who spends more than ten minutes on screen got an Oscar nomination, and while none of them one, they all deserved the nod. The director crafts a masterful movie with the help of excellent framing by the cinematographer (who did win an Oscar). This movie is a pure joy to watch, not in the way that it is light and funny. It is a joy to watch a movie that is crafted by an amazing director, stars an amazing cast and has a great story. It also has people playing pool!

10/10