Right from the beginning, The Sting totally projects a 1930s mood. The opening titles show the main players in extracts from the film itself, the film is divided by beautifully hand-illustrated title cards, and everything from the dialogue to the brilliant ragtime-themed musical score (although it actually originates from around 30 years before the film is set) helps set the mood. It's a really fun movie, thematically similar to Ocean's Eleven, but funnier.
I've never seen either Paul Newman or Robert Redford in their pre-1990s movies, but I loved them both. Redford reminded me so much of Brad Pitt it was ridiculous, it's clear who Pitt bases a lot of his mannerisms on (especially his brisk, jumpy walk and winning grin).
Great way to start my little project.
