When thinking of my top 100 movies of all time, mentally playing with the idea of classifying the movies which had the most impact on me as a viewer, there are more than just a couple Paul Newman films. When thinking of which films we could discuss on this episode, it was not an easy task to select just three.
I chose The Hustler because it is such a gripping film. If you’ve disregarded it until now, thinking it just a pool movie, I urge you to rent or buy this movie as soon as possible. It is an incredibly tense movie about relationships, and Newman shines as Fast Eddie Felson, the young and upcoming pool hustler set to take out Minnesota Fats.
The true story however is that of Felson and Sarah Packard. Their broken relationship, while painful to watch at times, always rings true.
Cool Hand Luke, our second Newman film discussed, is another American classic that is as engaging to watch now as it was in ’67 when it released. Luke is a man who simply does not fit anywhere in society. Even when it appears that he does, as when he settles into a routine in prison, his repeated escape attempts prove that he was merely passing time.
The film is full of iconic scenes, such as Luke eating fifty eggs, and Captain’s famous quote “What we have… is failure to communicate.”
It is yet another film, upon which Vince and I both agree, you owe it to yourself to watch.
Finally we have Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which saw the first pairing of Newman and Robert Redford.
This film, with all of its quirky scenes and montages, is one of my all-time favourites. There are so many moments which I can remember so vividly from when I first saw the film in my youth. I’ve since watched it many times, and with each viewing found something new to adore.
It is not without its faults, however none of these take away from the overall joy that comes from watching this film.
Please let us know what you thought of these, and if there are any Newman films you’d like us to cover in future episodes of Popcorn Ronin.
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