The Color of Money (1986)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers:

Walter Tevis (novel)
Richard Price (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 October 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

The hustler isn't what he used to be, but he has the next best thing: a kid who is

Plot:

Fast Eddie Felson teaches a cocky but immensely talented protégé the ropes of pool hustling, which in turn inspires him to make an unlikely comeback.

Plot Keywords:

Pool | Bar | Pool Hustler | Money | Girlfriend

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Fast Eddie Felson
Tom Cruise	...	Vincent Lauria
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Carmen
Helen Shaver	...	Janelle
John Turturro	...	Julian
Bill Cobbs	...	Orvis
Robert Agins	...	Earl at Chalkie's
Alvin Anastasia	...	Kennedy
Randall Arney	...	Child World Customer #1
Elizabeth Bracco	...	Diane at Bar
Vito D'Ambrosio	...	Lou at Child World
Ron Dean	...	Guy in Crowd
Lisa Dodson	...	Child World Customer #2
Donald A. Feeney	...	Referee #1
Paul Geier	...	Two Brothers / Stranger Player

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Brazil:12 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Netherlands:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Silver Screen Partners II

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [Martin Scorsese]In the Atlantic City casino, the man walking a dog on a leash. The dog is Scorsese's dog Zoe. Zoe is credited in the closing credits as "Dog Walkby."

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where they park the car just before going into the abandoned pool hall. They walk across the street to get to the pool hall, but when they walk back to the car they are exiting a building on the same side of the street as their car.

Quotes:

Eddie Felson: It's even, but it ain't settled. Let's settle it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Getting Made: The Making of 'GoodFellas' (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

It's My Life Baby

Scorsese's successful return to bigger budgets

"The Color Of Money" continues the story of pool player/hustler 'Fast Eddie' Felson (Paul Newman). He's 25 years old, and 25 years wiser as he's spent that time watching pool hustles and schemes and selling wine after his 'early' retirement from pool playing in the original.

But now he's got a new excitement and energy to the game, as he meets Vincent (Tom Cruise), a young, cocky but talented fresh player who's not well known around the low-level pool rooms Eddie has been frequenting. Eddie and Vincent's girlfriend, Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) see Vincent as a cash cow. Indeed, everybody uses everyone, and we're never quite sure the relationship between the three. That's the beauty of it.

Scorsese's never been more refined yet quietly flashy, dealing with a traditional 'old' Hollywood tale of a mentor and protege as small time hustlers playing each other and getting played. The film is an underrated gem, truly downplayed in Scorsese's overall filmography.

Definitely recommended.