I like the sting with Paul Newman Robert Redford and robert shaw the best actors there is alot of drinking and some shooting.
The Sting
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Smart, stylish caper -- but not for kids.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Sting was written by Elliot Panek
Parents need to know that this film contains several violent scenes, including several on-screen shootings. None of these deaths are terribly bloody. In this film, no one is on the right side of the law. The good guys are simply better at cheating than the bad guys, and their swindling is justified on the grounds that the man they are cheating has killed their friend. There is quite a bit of gambling, drinking, and smoking as well.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about the serious ramifications of a life of crime that are not addressed in this film. What are the risks involved with planning such schemes? Were these crooks driven to crime because of the Great Depression? If someone constantly lies and cheats others, can he ever be trusted, even by his closest friends?
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More on The Sting
What’s the Story?
THE STING teams Robert Redford with Paul Newman in a lively 1930s crime caper. When grifter Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) and his partner Luther cross the wrong mobster, Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw), Luther turns up dead. Seeking revenge, Johnny enlists the help of old friend Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman), con artist extraordinaire. On a train to Chicago, Johnny and Henry get in on a high stakes game of poker with Doyle, roping him into a larger scheme. With some help from a large supporting cast of accomplices, Johnny hatches an extended plot to bilk Doyle out of every penny he has. The fun stops when the FBI puts the screws to Hooker, convincing him to be part of a sting operation to catch the real big fish, Gondorff. In the end, the last one to double-cross the other wins.
Is It Any Good?
Part of the entertainment of The Sting is just how elaborate the scams can be. The entire movie is an extended series of sidelong glances, winks, and nods. At different moments in the story, the audience is positioned as the shyster and the mark, never sure who is telling the truth. It's a film steeped in nostalgia, not only in its setting, but in style as well. It has more than a few retro touches, from the storybook introduction to each act to the shadowy alleys reminiscent of 1940s film noir.
Despite some serious moments for the sake of drama, the film is full of joyfulness that borders on smugness. The fun in watching it comes from knowing that someone is being taken for a ride, but not knowing exactly who has the upper hand or exactly how things will play out.
Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures, Director: George Roy Hill
Run time: 135 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/25/1973, DVD release: 3/31/1998
MPAA Rating: PG for mild violence
Run time: 135 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/25/1973, DVD release: 3/31/1998
MPAA Rating: PG for mild violence
Our Members Say
See 4 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Good for twens 10 and up
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
Well done, sophisticated caper movie
100 plus better than a recent caper-like movie I've seen (Duplicity-yugh) but it did have some semi-graphc violence, like when a character is shot in the head, but it's brief. The language in today's terms would definitely earn a PG-13, but that didn't bother me any. I haven't seen any other movies from 1973, but this one probably deserved the Best Pic win.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
It can get very boring; I fell asleep halfway through. Some good.
Good drama, and good story, but a violent scene and lots of casual smoking and drinking.
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
funny humaris great movie
A fun great movie with two great actors.
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