 In 1997 the National Film Registry preserved The Hustler as " culturally , historically , or aesthetically significant . " In 2002 Roger Ebert described the film as one " where scenes have such psychic weight that they grow in our memories " and praised Rossen 's decision to develop all four main characters , and James Berardinelli listed the film in his All Time Top 100 for similar reasons . Ebert also praised Rossen 's decision to shoot the film in the " stygian gloom of the billiard parlor " created by black @-@ and @-@ white . Other accolades appeared in the 2000s ( decade ) . 
