https://thecineviewer.com/thehustler.html
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WarrenPeace — 2 months ago(January 14, 2026 12:00 AM)
I never understood how breaking his thumbs was enough for revenge when he could just do it all over again.
I suppose it is to teach him not to hustle in that town again.
I dunno.
Did he learn his lesson and move on?
Either those were tamer times (No mass shootings back then.) or they didn't want to be too harsh for a movie or whatever but it seems that to really get revenge they would have permanently crippled him.
Which would have been even more cringe but he can recover from broken thumbs.
I thought it was clever the way they filmed that scene.
Today it would be in graphic detail with sound efx that would have been way too much where here it is subtle for just enough cringe.
Movies were not anywhere near as gory back then so we thankfully got the, "Less is more," approach as unintentional as that may have been.*
*See the Psycho shower slash scene for another example.
"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall -
JohnnyBoy — 2 months ago(January 14, 2026 12:45 AM)
I agree and was surprised he managed to recover from that in no time. Had it been done just after the game with Fats and then segued to the middle with Piper Laurie, I would've accepted the length between the major pool events.
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JohnnyBoy — 2 months ago(January 14, 2026 12:50 AM)
By the way, speaking of Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason, I recommend Nothing in Common. That's the Tom Hanks I liked. Will post the review tomorrow.
For tons of movie reviews, 60+ genre lists, best of the year lists, and other content, check out:
www.thecineviewer.com