The Sting (1973)
The art of the con.
Presentation:
Two years after The French Connection comes one of the greatest cons in cinema. The film starts off pretty slow with a cartoonish caper vibes and presentation similar to old TV shows like MASH, but once the plot develops its actually quite substantial despite the light hearted tone. It bears resemblance to The French Connection while still being wholly original. The con is actually very compelling and the leads give you reason to root for them. But honestly, this is a film where the screenplay outshines even the stars. This is just a tight, well conceived script that was just as riveting today as in 1973.
Story:
There could be some objections especially when I rave about the script. It's a bit of a cheat because the stakes are a bit deceptive until we see all the cards at the end, but because it doesn't really take itself so seriously and classifies as a caper, I think the writers get away with the ending and even pull it off with flying colors.
Conclusion:
They don’t make cons like they used to. In some ways, this film could be considered a heist with how methodological the con is. It’s a lot of fun even absorbs your attention even leaving you invested and on the edge of your seats at some points. Chicago looks great, Paul Newman has the X factor and it’s simply a lot of fun. Definitely a recommended film if you like the classics.
Recommendations
Why the 60s and 70s were peak cinema.