The Sting really doubles down on bromance. Not only do Johnny Hooker and Henry Gondorff make up one of Hollywood's most charming guy-guy friendships, but they also meet because Johnny Hooker is trying to avenge the death of another of his bros, Luther Colman.
In fact, the whole movie has a decidedly "I get by with a little help from my friends" vibe. The conmen we meet work together in a chummy fashion, drinking beer as they hatch schemes and giving each other high-fives and pats on the back along the way.
Questions about Friendship
- How honest is Johnny with Henry throughout the movie? Does his secrecy ever come back to bite him? Why or why not?
- What does Henry secretly do to help Johnny in his run from Doyle Lonnegan? What does it tell us about the kind of guy Henry is?
- How does respect and admiration hold together the world of grifters and con artists? Is there much room for women in this world of friendship? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Take a peek at these thesis statements. Agree or disagree?
In The Sting, we learn that friendship doesn't mean much when there's money on the line.
The Sting reminds us that, while money might come and go, friends stay by your side.