The Sting (Golpe de Mestre in portuguese)

Since I met teacher JR and his pupils, I started becoming more interested in cinema, not only as an appreciator of content, but also as someone who delves into the technicalities of production, the construction of narrative, and, of course, every aesthetic aspect of the movie. As a cineast, he introduced me to the world of cinema.

It didn't take me long to start exploring different productions, more alternative plots, and a bit more far from mainstream, which further took me to vintage movies.

During my last trip from DXB to GRU, I had a chance to once again explore the multimedia ACE from the Emirates Airlines, that I found this relic movie from 1973 "The Sting", and I swear this was the best pick I could ever have thought!

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It was in the very atypical start that the movie got me.

The comic vein runs there from the very beginning, the start was wise and unpredictable, this movie makes Korean drama plot twists look like calm Sunday afternoons. (Oh, I dare to ask why Hollywood has gone so boring and predictable).

Another thing I like is how they connected the stories and how they didn't rush to develop the characters. The first scene takes quite a while to unfold, and this isn't a turn-off.

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Following the murder of a mutual friend, aspiring con man Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) teams up with old pro Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) to take revenge on the ruthless crime boss responsible, Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). Hooker and Gondorff set about implementing an elaborate scheme, one so crafty that Lonnegan won't even know he's been swindled. As their big con unfolds, however, things don't go according to plan, requiring some last-minute improvisation by the undaunted duo.

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It is long, but not tiring

I like old movies for the same reason I like old books; if they have survived this long, there is obviously a reason for that, and I will bet what I have in my pocket now that this ingredient is the pure juice of quality, the 7 times award wining (Including best picture) is a great display on how with all the time limitation in film production, they could make something really worth watching. Not yet interested? So check the trailer below and be 100% convinced to watch it.

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On this Septermber 16th mr Redford passed

His character, mr Johnny Hooker, is probably excited to go somewhere where the cops cannot find him, and his great performance is forever on our screens.