Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1973: Paul Newman in The Sting

Paul Newman did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Henry Gondorff in The Sting. 

I ought to open with a few complete asides and just re-state my enjoyment of this film. It's just a wonderfully entertaining and fun film. I always love when the same people who decry a best picture win like this, also decry the academy not recognizing comedy. The Sting is not a great serious drama, it's great entertainment. Anyways, one of the major reasons for this quality is in the star-pairing of Robert Redford as young up and comer con man Johnny Hooker, and Paul Newman as the old pro Henry Gondorff. Redford was the only actor recognized for the film, perhaps as the "hotter" commodity at the time, which given the academy's love for the film the lack of Robert Shaw as the chief villain Doyle Lonnegan and Paul Newman does feel a bit of an oversight strangely enough. Now it has to be said, despite Newman's star theoretically fading when compared to Redford at this point (though it wasn't really), Newman might as well be in his prime here. In fact while they make for a give and take duo in their previous collaboration Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Newman takes ownership of this film despite definitely not being lead, and...actually on this watch I had to admit something that I couldn't quite believe...Newman is supporting in the film. Now hear me out, Gondorff's role is specifically as the supporting mentor to Hooker, and though he has a few scenes to himself, so do Robert Shaw and Harold Gould as other con pro Kid Twist. Like those two, his scenes are almost exclusively in service to the creation or motivation of the con, that is technically all for Hooker's story. To kind of seal it I did a rough screentime count, where I was generous if anything, and from that I was surprised to learn Newman only has a few minutes more than 15 minutes of screentime, making him in a grand total of about 15% of the film, hard to call him a lead, particularly when Redford is an unquestionable lead standing right there with his over an hour of screentime. If the role wasn't played by Newman, I might've come to this conclusion a lot quicker.

 

That of course speaks to the strength of this performance and the star power of Newman in this role. This as we open with Newman's entrance into the film being a classic sort of anti-star entrance as we meet the "great Henry Gondorff" as he's sleeping off a hangover between a wall and his bed. This followed by being awoken through a cold shower, and we start with not the best introduction for this supposed ultimate con artist. Newman is of course great at being sloppy just as he is at being smooth. This as he instantly endears a bit to Henry in just showing his lack of pretense in his interactions with Hooker. Newman brings a nice bit of warmth just as he attempts to guides Hooker and even cautions him about revenge. Newman does it with really such a naturalistic way that makes Gondorff instantly endearing as this mentor to Hooker. Now as we follow Gondorff as he goes about recruiting his crew to set up Lonnegan, we get full movie star Newman in all his glory. This is just Newman at his most in that regard. Newman could be a great actor, but here he is a great movie star. This just in every one of his interactions, and nose flicks, there's a sheer sense of a joy of performance there. This as it is hard not to have the fun right along Newman every step of the way. Of course Newman does balance this in showing a sense of intelligence as he discusses the plan, pausing on moments to show regarding Lonnegan's potential wrath, but also just bringing so much energy to the build of the plan. He has such a wonderful zest within figuring out each bit of it. Newman making for a great leader for the plan that it is hard not to get wrapped up into the plan, and wish you could be part of his con in some way. 

Now the planning of the con leads to what is the best scene of the film, remember this is a film I adore, largely because it solely focuses on the two best performances in the film, that being Shaw and Newman going to toe to toe in a poker game. Before that though we do get a quick moment that kind of sums up Newman's performance a bit here, and what makes him just so likable. This as he shows off his card tricks to Hooker. This as he shows them off he is so impeccably smooth in his manner, but then when he fumbles a bit, Newman sort of "oops" reaction is perfection. This as Newman brings the right bits of subversion within the confidence to make him all the more likable actually. Now onto the poker game that is amazing in every regard and I love every minute of it. This as Newman is terrific in portraying Gondorff play the poker lout "Shaw". His whole manner being a mess, and being as abrasive and obnoxious as possible. He is hilarious in just how sloppy he is and particularly in stark contrast to Shaw who just is getting more and more angry in his reactions throughout. They make great foils for one another throughout the scene. I especially love one moment where Shaw finally verbally lashes out, and Newman's "aw crap" face (which apparently might've been genuine thinking Shaw was about to actually punch him) is the perfect moment of Gondorff losing his bearings just a bit. Newman's great though in showing in that sloppiness the casual confidence about the performance Gondorff is doing, making it seem all too easy. I especially love his rather comical way of glancing at his final hand, while also eyeing Lonnegan's henchman with a certain suspicion. Newman is hilarious throughout the scene, and against Shaw's reactions, you have a truly classic scene. 

That scene is Newman's highlight however Newman doesn't waste a moment from that point in portraying Gondorff trying to make it all work. This as there's actually a nice balance. This in moments of portraying his concern for Hooker's safety. Newman's actually fairly moving in portraying this low key concern wholly earnestly as he remains uncertain of the kid's life throughout the affair. This while also portraying a nice duality in the moments of the actual sting. This in capturing the degree of stress as Newman portrays a lack of confidence in the moment of running around trying to make it work and creating a good sense of the pressure of it. This against his moments of still playing Shaw as this cocky and mean employer of a corrupt race betting room. Newman though creates a good character in these moments with stiff and dismissive anger he brings in playing the part of the boss you'd believe Hooker's character supposedly hates. Of course this all being just part of the game and in the moments of success where you get that carry over chemistry of Redford and Newman from Butch and Sundance. This as when the two share joy it just seems all the brighter. The final sequence in particularly being all the more joyous just in their mutual jubilation being just so infectious. Even in his supporting screentime, Newman seems the lead just by his presence throughout once he appears. He makes for the proper con man of all con mans. I'll say though watching the film again, I must've had a little bit of a case of Oscar sickness in my evaluation of Robert Redford's work, that is being overly dismissive of it largely due to my love of the Oscar snubbed Newman and Shaw. I will correct that of course. Nonetheless though still, Newman and Shaw do steal the film, Shaw through his vicious and volatile presence and Newman through his charming one. This may not be the technically best acted performance by Paul Newman, but it is perhaps his most entertaining and the clearest example of his star power.