The Color Of Money Reviews

Scorcese's low point

What can I say? An absolute shocker. Obviously Scorcese directed this film during his drug addled years, and the results are self evident. Only one scene belies Scorcese's genius with a spinning billiard ball reflecting the faces of the characters.

The rest of the film is awful; not worthy of TV movie status. The smoldering, vibrant and charasmatic "Fast" Eddie from the Hustler is transformed into a characterless, faceless chump. The early scenes with Tom Cruise swinging his cue like a ninja turtle on acid are risible.

Oh well. Everyone has his bad day. The Oscar awarded to Newman illustrates the gross oversentamentalism that pervades Hollywood. Newman has never been worse.

Medium Paced Eddie

Ah, the runt of the Scorsese litter, the oft-derided, unloved follow-up to The Hustler. But, you know, it's pretty good. Has its bad points (as one may expect): Tom Cruise is insufferable, there's some v. bad '80s choons - at one point Phil Collins can be heard crooning away in the background - and you can't help but feel that Marty only did it to get in the studio's good books so they'd finance Goodfellas or The Last Temptation of Christ.

Still, the trademark whiplash direction is present and correct, Paul Newman is fantastic in it (won an oscar for it, I think) and the dialogue is snappy, interesting and entertaining, although not as good as the brilliantly written Hustler.

average

this was ok but nothing special certanly not as good as all the hype even if you love pool like i do and how the film ends is disapointing

It starts well, pushed along by earlier memories of the Hustler.

Then, about half way through the movie, the plot gets tired, the actors get tired and finally I get tired.

A very young Tom Cruise plays a character you'd be happy to see impaled on a pool cue. Mr Newman plays Mr Newman - and none the worse for that.

It's just that before you watch this film ask yourself: 'how exciting do I find a game of pool?' Exactly!

CLASSY

Martin Scorsese out does the original `the hustler` and does so in style. The fast paced film packs a punch, Newman delivers a top performance and Cruise shows why he soon became hot Hollywood property. Enjoy!

Worthwhile but not Scorsese's best

Having seen most of the movie previously I knew what to expect but I feel that this is one of Martin Scorsese's overlooked pictures. While never as good as 'Raging Bull', 'King of Comedy' and 'Goodfellas' it deserves far more exposure than it seems to have received.

Paul Newman is excellent in a role he had already made his own in The Hustler and even Tom Cruise is bearable for a change. Scorsese seems at home in the smoky bars with their seedy characters and the way he shoots some of the pool sequences is fantastic.

Not the director's best but definitely worth a look.

Newman shows his class

American movies based around sport are by definition awful. Think Goldie Hawn in Wildcats, think Emilio Estevez in Mighty Ducks, think every second Kevin Costner flick. The Color of Money thankfully bucks the trend.

Paul Newman is on great form, the young, brash Tom Cruise demonstrates early potential and you feel safe in the hands of director Martin Scorsese despite the topic being a departure from his gangster genre.

If you think Newman, Cruise or Scorsese, The Color of Money would not be the first film you'd associate with them. It should be as it is among their best work.

[Highly rated reviewer]

The effects of money

This is an interesting portrayal of youth versus middle age in its enaction of how the pursuit of money can affect people's lives and relationships.

[Highly rated reviewer]

pot as many balls as you can

this film oozes class. it has a very cool cast headed by paul newman playing a role he was born to play as far as i'm concerned. not to mention tom cruise and his part in all this as a cocky edge of your seat kind of guy. put martin scorsese behind the camera and you've got yourself a classic. as for the era, it was set in a time i consider to be very cool and this really shows. the locations of dark smoky pool halls with people hustling each other for money, and a really good thumping soundtrack in the background for good measure. i cant comment on the original yet as i havent seen it, but having seen this it's only left me with a greater need for more of the same.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Impressive.

Well, I do love playing pool, and all of the psyche which goes with it. It is, basically, a very easy game, but one that with practice and skill, it is possible to call and make 'impossible' shots. It often comes down to pure nerve and steadiness; I've seen many excellent players miss the final ball, when it was a sitter; people tend to lose there nerve at the crucial moments. It is this that makes playing and watching pool so fascinating, although I wouldn't recommend anyone to play for money; this is when things often become violent.

This film should not be compared with 'The Hustler', which is a completely different kind of film.

This film works as a personal drama in interesting siuations. The script is very good, it is well directed, the three central performances are all excellent, so what more could one want ?

Perhaps, the story itself isn't a particularly important or significant, but then, most personal dramas aren't like this either, and this is not a necessary feature of a great film. The story only has to be interesting, and this does have a very interesting story.