#1 - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Sundance Kid: You just keep thinkin' Butch. That's what you're good at.

This maybe my favorite movie ever. Godfather is high on my list as well. This is my favorite western. What really impressed me about this movie is how much it holds up over time. It is a funny movie. What a shame that Newman and Redford only made two movies together. They were both stellar. With this blog, ends my homage to Newman. May he rest in peace. Here are some scenes from this funny movie.

Butch: Then you jump first.
Sundance: No, I said.
Butch: What's the matter with you?
Sundance: I can't swim.
Butch:: Are you crazy? The fall will probably kill you.



1,2,3, go...



Butch: All of them?!? What's a matter with those guys?



The only way to end this homage...the last scene...

#2 - The Hustler

Bert: You got talent.
Eddie: So I got talent? So what beat me?
Bert: Character.

This is just one of many great quotes. It is also how Ebert begins his review of the movie. You can read it here. It is a great review. I highly recommend it. This movie has a peak performance from Paul Newman, a breakout role for George C Scott, and Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats. I think if you catch me on any given day my #1 and #2 change. It is more like 1a and 1b.

Paul Newman was nominated 6 times for best actor but only won once in Color of Money. Many believe, including me, that was more of a fix for him not winning for the Hustler. He should have won it in 1962 for the Hustler. With no offense to Cool Hand Luke, I believe this was his best individual performance. Shame on the AFI for not putting it in their top 100 movies. I will forever think it is #101 on their list.

Go about 2 minutes in to this scene. The back and forth between Gleason and Newman is awesome.

Fats: "Now I know why they call you Fast Eddie."



Here is part of their first match.

2:15 in - Eddie's description of Fats is great. Gleason is gliding around the table.

4:45 in - Eddie's manager tell him to quit and Eddie stands up and takes control. Awesome!



Their last match and basically the rest of the movie. Do not watch if you want to watch the movie.

6:00 in - Bert yells "You owe me MONEY!" I love this whole scene after that line!
10:05 in - Fast Eddie: "Fat man, you shoot a great game of pool."
Fats: "So do you fast Eddie."

#3 - The Sting

The second movie that Robert Redford and Paul Newman made together. Why they did not make any more is beyond me. This one won 7 academy awards including best picture. The two they made were amazing. The Sting is one giant hustle that in the end hustles the viewer. Just a great movie and it takes place in Chicago. Bonus!

Great card scene...



The trailer (i love this music)...



Cheers!

#4 - Cool Hand Luke

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate."



Let me clear something up. I love this movie. If I were to list my top 25 movies, this would be in it. It is just that Newman has some really good movies, so this gets dropped to #4 for me. I know it would be #1 for a lot of people. I am okay with that. Who else could have played this role? I do not think there is anyone. Newman nailed this role. As Fubar said, nobody can eat 50 eggs.

Just standing in the rain...



One last tribute...



#3 and top 5 coming tomorrow.

#5 - Slap Shot

Slap shot is #5 on my Newman movies and would also be somewhere in my top 5 sports movies ever. That is an interesting stat considering I am not even a hockey fan!

This was a different role for Newman than some of his other roles. Any movie that has a bench clearing brawl before the game starts is ok with me!




I heart the Hanson brothers.

Preview of the week

My blog is going to be a tribute to the myth, the man, the legend, Paul Newman all week. Each day this week I will post a blog with clips from my top 5 movies of Paul Newman. On Monday, I will start with number 5 and on Friday, I end with my Paul Newman favorite movie and honestly my favorite movie ever.

Also, start thinking, my top 5 on Wednesday will be my top 5 favorite actors of all time. Yes, I am going overboard this week but the movie industry and the salad dressing industry!!!! lost an icon.

Anyway, I hope your weekend went better football-wise than mine.

Cheers!

RIP Paul Newman

I just saw that my favorite actor of all time has passed away. RIP Paul Newman.

The Hustler, Bustch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Cool Hand Luke, the Sting...these are 4 must see movies and this is only the tip of the iceberg.

I will give many more blogs to this...RIP Paul Newman...RIP.