...all it takes is a little confidence.
A novice con man teams up with an acknowledged master to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling off the ultimate big con and swindling a fortune from a big-time mobster.
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Character
Resolved, meticulous, classical in form and plot-driven.
- resolvedopen-ended
- rawmeticulous
- classical in formformally daring
- character-ledplot-driven
- contemporarynostalgic
Who loves it, who doesn't
64 profiled raters. Loved most by The Prestige Hunters; disliked most by The Genre Devotees.
Where do you stand?
Answer first; then see how everyone, and your circle, split.
“Is The Sting better than Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?”
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“Is Paul Newman the best thing in The Sting?”
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“Is the heist the best part?”
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A yes-or-no question, answered from what people wrote here, on TMDB and on Wikipedia. Never made up.
Reviews
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- Filipe Manuel Netoon TMDB · Sep 202310/10
**It is imperative to rediscover this magnificent film.** There are many films about con artists and confidence games (Ocean’s Eleven and its two or three sequels, for example), but I had never seen one that was so good-natured and in which the main characters were so likable. It's a light, family comedy from the 70s, in which a group of tricksters decides to risk their lives to deceive a powerful and rich mobster in order to avenge a friend, killed by his hitmen. This film was, at the time, a huge financial success in the USA and won notable awards, especially seven Academy Awards: Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Editing and Best Art Direction! Therefore, it is difficult to believe that a film with such qualities has been forgotten, but it is true. I never saw it on television, I never heard much about it, I don't think it even had much visibility outside his country of origin. In Portugal there wasn't, but I understand why: the film premiered the day before the country experienced a military coup against the government, and the rest of that year was very complicated here, so no one was very willing to go to t
Read the whole review on TMDB - CinemaSerfon TMDB · May 20238/10
Say what you like about the undoubted chemistry between Paul Newman ("Henry") and Robert Redford ("Johnny") this film belongs to a superb effort from the understated but hugely entertaining Robert Shaw. He's the hard-nosed gangster "Lonnegan" who gets (anonymously) fleeced by a "Johnny" who quickly decides that discretion is the better part of valour and gets out of Dodge. It's at this stage that the two grifters decide that their mark could be good for a great deal more money and so set up an elaborate operation purporting to be an undercover betting (on horses) proposition. Now "Lonnegan" ain't no easy target and every step they take is filled with danger - but slowly and surely the two, alongside a veritable army of fellow cons, start to piece together the ultimate lure for this clever, but ultimately greedy, man. Can they pull it off? Can they pull it off and survive? The films looks great, the writing is quickly-paced, humorous and it allows for loads of engagement between almost everyone - including an on-form Eileen Brennan and the charismatic "Kid Twist" (Harold Gould). The aesthetics are fabulous too - the sets, costumes, cars - even the tommy guns - all work really well a
Read the whole review on TMDB - John Chardon TMDB · Sep 201910/10
Not only does it sting, it floats like a butterfly as well. Academy Award Winner Best Picture, Academy Award Winner Best Director-George Roy Hill, Academy Award Winner Best Screenplay-David S. Ward, Academy Award Winner Best Editing-William Reynolds, Academy Award Winner Best Song Score-Marvin Hamlisch, Academy Award Winner Best Art Direction/Set Decoration-Bumstead & Payne, Academy Award Winner Best Costume Design-Edith Head, Nominated for Best Actor (Redford), Best Cinematography, Best Sound. Few films can draw me in and indulge me on repeat viewings like The Sting does, it was barely 36 hours ago when I sat there talking to the screen offering advice like I was in the flipping film. I have seen it written that the film's success was only garnered because of the star appeal of the leads! Well for starters that is an insult to Robert Shaw who may be accused of overdoing it at times, but his portrayal of Lonnegan is a complete joy, witness the fury on his face during an on train poker game as the irrepressible Newman does comedy gold. Visually the film is a delight, and the story fuses together to culminate in an ending that not only stings with impact; but also floats like a cinem
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Cast
- Paul NewmanHenry Gondorff
- Robert RedfordJohnny Hooker
- Robert ShawDoyle Lonnegan
- Charles DurningLt. Wm. Snyder
- Ray WalstonJ.J. Singleton
- Eileen BrennanBillie
- Harold GouldKid Twist
- John HeffernanEddie Niles
- Dana ElcarF.B.I. Agent Polk
- Jack KehoeErie Kid
Crew
- George Roy HillDirector
- David S. WardWriter
- Robert SurteesDirector of Photography
- Marvin HamlischOriginal Music Composer
- Scott JoplinOriginal Music Composer
- William ReynoldsEditor
- Julia PhillipsProducer
- Tony BillProducer
- Michael PhillipsProducer
Where to watch
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.
Back to the Future 198581% alikeBoth resolved, classical in form.
Shakespeare in Love 199876% alikeBoth classical in form.
Both resolved, meticulous.
Catch Me If You Can 200276% alikeBoth classical in form.
Aladdin 199275% alikeBoth resolved, classical in form, meticulous.
Chicken Run 200075% alikeBoth resolved, meticulous.
The Gold Rush 192574% alikeBoth classical in form, resolved.
The Fall Guy 202474% alikeBoth resolved, classical in form.
Shovel Knight 201470% alikeGame · Both resolved.
Acapulco 202168% alikeTelevision · Both classical in form.
Often watched with
Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Tastebuds
