--- title: "The Sting: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-sting/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-sting" critics_score: 85 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Sting (1973): what the critics said Critics' score 85 from 11 reviews: 10 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics greet The Sting as a witty, good-natured con comedy whose pleasures depend on careful craft. Praise clusters around Newman and Redford’s rapport, the intricate screenplay and George Roy Hill’s controlled direction. The reviews repeatedly credit the chaptered storytelling and elaborate swindle with keeping the entertainment lively, while the 1930s settings and Scott Joplin music contribute much of its charm. For most critics, the polish is central to the pleasure of watching the scheme unfold. Reservations concern length and how much warmth lies beneath that professionalism. Eye for Film enjoys the performances and direction but finds that the film occasionally drags. Time Out offers the clearest dissent, admiring the period detail while finding the familiar formula somewhat soulless. The spread is largely between enthusiasm and qualified enjoyment: most critics welcome the calculated construction, while a minority find it overextended or emotionally thin. ## Radio Times — John Ferguson Rating 5/5. The reteaming of Butch Cassidy stars Newman and Redford with director Hill proved a glorious triumph that won seven Oscars. The real pleasure comes from the chemistry between the two leads, the lovingly created 1930s settings and Marvin Hamlisch's inspired reworking of Scott Joplin's music. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ywtive/the-sting/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 4/4. 27 December 1973. The critic calls it one of the most stylish movies of the year and praises its light-fingered, witty con-game plot executed with off-balance pacing and oblique visuals. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-sting-1973) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2011. The critic calls George Roy Hill the real king of the comedy crime caper for turning the slick script into one of cinema’s sassiest films, praising the episodic structure, Redford and Newman’s sizzling charisma, and the iconic ragtime soundtrack. It concludes that everything good about Hollywood fell into place at the right time, making it magnificent and timeless. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/sting-review/) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 7 June 2012. The critic describes it as a hugely enjoyable con-man caper from 1973 that reprises the chemistry between Redford and Newman from Butch Cassidy. It singles out the terrific Scott Joplin score, exquisite cameos and elegantly played-out sting for praise. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/dvd-bluray-the-sting-pg-7827689.html) ## The Telegraph — Patrick Smith Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2015. The film is the definitive con artist comedy and a crafty, good-natured crime caper that surpasses the duo's earlier collaboration. It excels through its complex swindle, period detail, snappy script, and sleek direction with chapter headings. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/11320168/The-Sting-review-irresistible.html) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Rating B+. 13 June 2012. The critic calls it a model of old-school craft and a broadly appealing entertainment that runs like a top in an era of auteur-driven turbulence. The silky-smooth mechanics of the screenplay and direction are singled out as the primary allure, along with the effortless Scott Joplin score. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-sting-1798173148) ## The New York Times — Vincent Canby Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 December 1973. The critic finds the film good-natured and charming as a con game about exuberant 1930s confidence men, forgiving its efforts to charm despite some loose period details. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1973/12/26/archives/film1930s-confidence-men-are-heroes-of-sting.html) ## The Times — Stephen Dalton Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 December 2005. The biggest grossing film of 1973 reunites the successful team for a convoluted scam in 1930s Chicago. Three decades on, it still bounces along with an irresistible, roguish swagger. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/the-sting-5nbqbxdrt68) ## Time Out — CPe Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 25 February 2015. Hill's follow-up to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid sticks to the same proven box-office formula with Newman and Redford as conmen in 1930s Chicago. It is all very professional with fine attention to period detail, but a bit soulless. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-sting) ## Sight and Sound This is the most elaborate heist film to date, with an outrageously jokey and calculated finale. It is a thoroughly old-fashioned, professional entertainment that is a little overlong but sufficiently well written and played, with real pleasures in its sheer physical beauty and rich re-creation of a Thirties milieu. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/features/ultimatefilm/chart/details.php?ranking=45) ## HeyUGuys — Dave Roper Rating 5/5. 4 June 2012. The review praises the flawless screenplay, strong characterization, rapport between Newman and Redford, and calls it an intelligent, witty and enjoyable con movie. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/universal-100-years-the-sting-bluray-review/) ## Eye for Film — Trash Fletcher Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2005. The critic finds the film an enjoyable con tale with outrageous and entertaining characters, praising the performances of Newman and Redford and the direction, but complains about its length and occasional dragging. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-sting-film-review-by-trash-fletcher) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-sting.md