Life in the Fast Lane: Fast Eddie Felson and the Search for Greatness (2007)
*** (out of 4)
Twelve-minute featurette has interviews with Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, Michael Constantine, editor Dede Allen and film historian Drew Casper as they discuss certain elements of THE HUSTLER. The main focus is the connection between Newman's drive as an actor pushing the same way that Fast Eddie Felson did in the movie. Newman starts off talking about how he almost didn't get this role and probably wouldn't have had another movie he was working on didn't fall apart. Both Laurie and Constantine talk about the various intensity and method acting that Newman brought to the character. Historian Casper talks about several of the key scenes in the film including the impact of the Laurie character. Overall there's certainly nothing ground-breaking to be had here but it's an entertaining featurette and of course getting the brief interview pieces with Newman makes this a must see.