Kevin Lazzari | Special to the Fitzhugh
I lost track of how many times I viewed Cool Hand Luke.
I consider it to be one of Paul Newman’s best roles with the exception of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I would venture to say his part was one that most people will remember.
I know certain people will comment that his part in, The Hustler was solid and then someone will mention, The Sting. Yes, they are fantastic movies and Newman was great in each role, but no one else could have played the part of Cool Hand Luke.
Paul Newman takes us through a full range of his character. No emotion is left out of his character and the results are fantastic.
The scene where he is in a boiled egg eating contest makes me laugh every time. His character's defiance to give up in any way to the prison guards authority is what pulls the movie together.
The line, “What we've got here is a failure to communicate” is probably the greatest line ever spoken in any of Newman’s films. That line cemented the theme for the rest of the movie and Newman took it to task right up to the credits.
To make a movie about a chain gang and make it interesting is proof that there was only one Paul Newman of his time.
Kevin Lazzari owner of Video Stop in Jasper, is writing reviews for the Fitzhugh.
Cool Hand Luke (1967) is available on DVD, Blu-ray and for digital download.
