I love your analysis and being 14 when the Hustler came out I and many of my friends wanted nothing more than to emulate Fast Eddie. What we don’t and probably can’t know is how Eddie was able to rehabilitate himself after the tragedy of his girl friend’s death. I think he was motivated by shedding Bert’s label of a ‘loser’. To some extent, that thought is always with him.
I love your analysis and being 14 when the Hustler came out I and many of my friends wanted nothing more than to emulate Fast Eddie. What we don’t and probably can’t know is how Eddie was able to rehabilitate himself after the tragedy of his girl friend’s death. I think he was motivated by shedding Bert’s label of a ‘loser’. To some extent, that thought is always with him.
Well said - I think there's a lot to this. And thanks for the kind words about the essay!