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The Color of Money
Former pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson decides he wants to return to the game by taking a pupil. He meets talented but green Vincent Lauria and proposes a partnership. As they tour pool halls, Eddie teaches Vincent the tricks of scamming, but he eventually grows frustrated with Vincent's showboat antics, leading to an argument and a falling-out. Eddie takes up playing again and soon crosses paths with Vincent as an opponent.
Release : | 1986 |
Rating : | 7 |
Studio : | Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners II, |
Crew : | Production Design, Set Decoration, |
Cast : | Paul Newman Tom Cruise Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Helen Shaver John Turturro |
Genre : | Drama |
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Reviews
This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.
The film may be flawed, but its message is not.
Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.
I agree with many things written here about direction, acting, pool shooting etc. What I don't get here is the plot. The movie seems two consist of two parts which don't really connect, though you'd expect them to. Fast Eddie took young Vince with him in order to teach him the tactics of losing and winning, with the final goal of betting on him against low odds and making big bucks for everyone. After a series of hustling scenes, some involving Vince's girlfriend Carmen, Eddie falls for one himself. He becomes over-emotional about it in a way that totally doesn't fit his character so far. Then, against any sense, his frustration leads him to give up on Vince. He yells at Carmen and him to continue to Atlantic City on their own, as he can't teach Vince anything anymore. At this point of the movie I was SURE that this dramatic move was a part of some big plan that Eddie had, and actually wondered how come Carmen and Vince bought it so easily. But as it turned out... there was no big plan. When they met in Atlantic City I was excepting something really interesting to happen and nothing did. As the movie ended when Eddie and Vince matching, Eddie saying "I'm back!", I thought that perhaps the whole journey was a scam hiding the fact that Eddie was still in good shape. I came here assuming that the FAQ would answer my questions. But nothing? This is just it? Eddie financed the journey just to use Vince's talent for a short while and small money? And then Eddie decided to return playing? Is that all? Disappointed.
"The Color of Money", which I guess is a better title than just "Green", has some big shoes to fill as a sequel. I mean, "The Hustler" was something else. And it would've been really cool to see Jackie Gleason return, but at least we get a hotheaded Tom Cruise (and there is nothing in this world quite like a Cruise tantrum).But it's not a bad movie, and it's at its most entertaining when some actual pool is being shot; the camera work, watching the two stars work their cue magic, it's great stuff. And speaking of Paul Newman, he is the charismatic core of this movie, especially when he regains his long-dormant hustler mojo. It's more exciting than you'd think.7/10
The Color of Money ain't about pool. The Color of Money isn't about young Vincent, or his girlfriend, Carmen. And believe it or not, The Color of Money isn't even about money. The Color of Money is about Paul Newman's character, Fast Eddie Felson, and his salvation to place meaning with significance to his trying lonely life as a pool hustler. Viewers lost in the glam of hustling pool or the action of 9-ball are missing out seeing the real beauty of this film of the story told. The story and life of Fast Eddie Felson that is. And credit to Paul Newman to go along with the brilliant character of course. Newman gives his grade A+ performance, one of the best I've ever seen, from Newman, or from anybody that is. Paul Newman is beautiful. The Color of Money is one truly exceptional character piece. The Color of Money, for my money, is better than The Hustler. It's an incredible sequel. It's an incredible feature. It's one of my more loved movies, mostly for Paul Newman's performance, but also very much for Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Tom Cruise as well. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is the main co-star here, and Tom Cruise takes on third role. I love the beautiful Mary Elizabeth. She's so good. She has such true acting abilities, which is rarer to find in Hollywood than one might think. Tom Cruise is great as Vincent, one of his more well acted roles to go along with Jerry Maguire and Rain Man, which is his best. Tom Cruise has some true acting talent too, just not like Newman or Mastrantonio, only because that they are two of the very best. Cruise has more star quality though. Don't get me wrong. The kid can act. I just love Tom Cruise. The best of the magic of The Color of Money happens between Newman and Mastrantonio as they quietly share a magnetic connection. The magnificent Martin Scorsese is a master of his trade, maybe the best in the business, and The Color of Money is one other misperceived, under-appreciated Scorsese classic, to go along with Casino and Gangs of New York, as well as but to a smaller scale, Shutter Island, The Aviator, Cape Fear, Bringing Out the Dead, and Mean Streets. The Color of Money is a 9 out of 10 ranking, an outstanding mark, nothing less. I hope I spelled Mary Elizabeth's last name right every time, Mastrantonio. It would be too entirely challenging to revise such a mishap. But I know that I did. Mastrantonio, God, that's a terrific name.
If the performances were so great, why only rate it a 7 out of 10? To begin with, I watched this with my kids back in the 80's and we got hooked on 9-ball right away--we would play in this garage, and I would dominate until one of my younger kids dropped the 9-ball by accident, ending my streak. So, the film has sentimental value to me.In the clear light of day, however, I re-watched it recently, and recalled what annoyed me the first time: Newman's reactions to Vince seem inconsistent and inexplicable. When Vince (Cruise) does what Newman (Eddie) tells him to do, Eddie is angry - when Vince does the opposite, Eddie gets mad (once, even driving off and leaving him). I didn't get it.We are supposed to view Eddie as the mentor here, but, frequently, the roles reverse. For example, when Eddie decides to play a competitive game against a stranger (a young Forest Whittaker), he finds he is the victim of a clever con-artist -- he throws a hissy-fit, but Vince's reaction is the correct one: "Forget it - we'll get this guy next time." Eddie won't listen. Who is the impetuous protegé now?There are some great pool sequences, however, and a glorious scene where Vince - armed with a totebox containing a world-class cue - encounters the Hall #1 player, who asks: "What have you got there?" "Doom", replies Vince with a big smile. Wish I had the game to say that.So, if you can tolerate characters that react unevenly to situations, and aren't always likable, you might enjoy this unique film featuring Paul Newman's only Oscar-winning role (he shoulda won for Cool Hand Luke).