'The Hustler'

Another chapter in my attempt to "get" Paul Newman, to understand why everyone thinks he's so great.

And he is great, I guess. So far, he hasn't eclipsed his performance in "Hud," which is a million miles from his performance in "The Hustler." I do kind of think that everyone's affinity for "The Hustler" is due to the fact that it's about playing pool. If it was a soccer or curling movie, nobody would think it's as cool.

Playing pool -- the smoky bars, breaking a cue over someone's back, drinking, cussing -- is a very appealing idiom for many people. I think it's because it borders on shadiness and ill-repute, without having to necessarily join a gang or anything.

Despite Newman's physical attributes and his clear command on the camera as a badass, I find it very interesting that all of his characters abuse these characteristics and live and die as broken, lonely and lost. From Luke to Eddie to Hud, it's basically the same character.