 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Sting
- Review Date: December 7, 2006
- PG
- Genre: Drama
- 1973
Common Sense Media says
Smart, stylish caper -- but not for kids.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
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.
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.
What families can talk about
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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Kid, 11 years old
October 10, 2011
AGE
The sting
I watched it with my Dad. It was an okay movie. I loved that it was classic.
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AGE
Good for twens 10 and up
I like the sting with Paul Newman Robert Redford and robert shaw the best actors there is alot of drinking and some shooting.
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AGE
Great movie; mainly beware of language
For the first 45 minutes or so, I wondered why my son liked this movie so much. After that, it's easy to get caught up in the twists and turns. Of course, Paul Newman and Robert Redford are very easy on the eyes :o) I was surprised at the PG rating, however, considering the amount of language in it. This will become one of our favorites.
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AGE
The Sting
There is a reason why I call my self The Sting fan.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 18, 2009
AGE
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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AGE
funny humaris great movie
A fun great movie with two great actors.
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AGE
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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Kid, 11 years old
February 26, 2012
AGE
Good movie
The Sting is actually a good movie, good for kids who don't have a problem with swearing. It is an interesting movie because the main character is actually not a very good role model, I liked it though.
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| Topics: | friendship |
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | George Roy Hill |
| Cast: | Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 135 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 25, 1973 |
| DVD release date: | March 31, 1998 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | mild violence |
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