 The film was well received by critics , although with the occasional <unk> . Variety praised the performances of the entire main cast but felt that the " <unk> aspects " of the story prevented the film from achieving the " goal of being pure entertainment . " Variety also felt the film was far too long . Stanley <unk> , writing for The New Republic , concurred in part with this assessment . <unk> strongly praised the principal cast , calling Newman " first @-@ rate " and writing that Scott 's was " his most credible performance to date . " Laurie , he writes , gives her part " <unk> <unk> touches " ( although he also <unk> criticizes her for over @-@ reliance on Method acting ) . While he found that the script " strains hard to give an air of menace and <unk> to the pool hall " and also declares it " full of pseudo @-@ meaning " , <unk> <unk> <unk> 's " sure , economical " direction , especially in regard to Gleason who , he says , does not so much act as " [ pose ] for a number of pictures which are well arranged by <unk> . It is the best use of a <unk> by a director since <unk> photographed <unk> <unk> as Big Daddy . " The New York Times , despite finding that the film " <unk> a bit " and that the romance between Newman and Laurie 's characters " seems a <unk> far @-@ <unk> " , nonetheless found that The <unk> " speaks powerfully in a universal language that <unk> and reveals bitter truths . " 
