The Sting
1973 · Directed by George Roy Hill
Original language: English
- comedy
- crime
- drama
The story
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.
What it’s like
Warm, burnished period color with a sepia-tinged glow: Depression-era Chicago rendered in amber lamplight, pool-hall haze, and the pale blue of tailored suits against brick and lacquered wood. George Roy Hill frames it with a storyteller's poise, favoring wide, composed shots that let actors play out whole scenes, interrupted now and then by cheeky inserts and title cards that tip the hat to old silent-era cinema. Scott Joplin's ragtime, played on piano and in brassy arrangements, sets the bounce for the whole film, so the score does much of the emotional work, and the rhythm is brisk but unhurried, building through a long run of wigs, cons, and misdirection. The vibe is sly, nostalgic, and playful, with a light touch of melancholy under the fun. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or a night in with someone you want to make laugh. Violence is present but mostly off-screen or sudden and brief, including a few shootings and one harsh cold-blooded murder, with no gore. Its emotional core is friendship and loyalty between two clever outsiders. It is for people who love witty, character-driven caper films and crisp, old-fashioned entertainment.
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