Hustle (1975)

I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I have to agree with the reviewer who gave it an 8. I give it a 10. I caught this movie randomly channel surfing; on The Retro Movie channel. The listing gave it two stars; and I have to say it deserves a 4 stars out of 4 stars. I also, can't believe Comcast; or whoever rated the movie gave it two stars. It is Just a very intelligent movie; that works on many levels. It is a sophisticated movie; and that might have something to do with it getting such a low rating from a general American audience? I can see that in Europe it would have been appreciated more; for obvious reasons. There is a scene where the protagonist and girlfriend are in a cinema; watching "A Man an A Woman"; which is a French Film by the esteemed; French New Wave Director; Francois Truffaut; this right there is a good example of why an American audience would not appreciate this film; for what it is? A great film.

Great, underrated film noir, expertly written, master class of the genre. Begs to be rediscovered. If you are a purist of noir, then this is a gift to you, courtesy of Aldrich. There is so much more to Burt Reynolds than people give him credit, and he proves it here. I may be alone in this, but i got the impression the film was lit for black and white and comes off badly in colour - the contrast is too extreme, and ultimately works against the film. Curiously, when i tuned it to b/w it looked incredible - as moody and mean as Aldrich would would have intended. And Deneuve isn't as bad as the critics made out. if you love noir and have a problem with this film, i can't begin to understand why.

Does anyone know the name of the opera piece that Burt plays while sitting in his car ? I haven't seen the movie in a long time but I remember thinking Burt did a good job and Eddie Albert was great . It was such an unusual part for Mr. Albert to play . Catherine Deneuve was nice to look at but she was cold . I have to get a copy and watch this again . The scene in Burts car really sticks in my mind . I can hear the music and I think Burt mentions the title but I have forgotten it . I thought Burt was believable in this role . Guess you can tell I'm treading water just trying to fill up the required ten lines . I really am only interested in the name of that song .

While not a complete failure, Robert Aldrich's neo-noir thriller is still not very good. Burt Reynolds plays a hard-bitten LA cop shacking up with call-girl Catherine Deneuve. He starts to question his home life while investigating the murder of another hooker. Surprisingly, there's little chemistry between Reynolds and Deneuve, and although they get into a couple of tussles --- physical and otherwise --- they're really not all that convincing as a couple. Would she REALLY stay away from Paris so long for HIM? Does he, a COP, REALLY find her aloofness so appealing that he would overlook her profession? HUSTLE is very slow going and the script by Steve Shagan is simply not compelling. Although Reynolds and Deneuve seldom rise above their respective movie personas --- he's the bad cop to partner Paul Winfield's good cop and Deneuve, in a VERY rare Hollywood film, is pure ice --- the supporting cast is terrific. In addition to Winfield, the film features Eddie Albert, Norm Crosby, Eileen Brennan, and, in a throwaway cameo, Ernest Borgnine. Ben Johnson is misused and grossly overacts as the dead girl's distraught father. Aldrich lets him run amok!Aldrich, who directed a lot of stylish movies in the 50s and 60s, lost his way by the 70s with movies like THE GRISSOM GANG and THE CHOIRBOYS. His direction here is flat, almost TV crime show level. At one point Reynolds and Winfield resemble Starsky and Hutch when they leap into action, jump into their car and screech away!