Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, even without a mega-star leading...
Review: I initially heard about this movie in a pool league newsletter I get, however, I could never find it, and it never came around to Atlanta. I accidently found it the other day, and after watching it last night, I must say I like it the most of the few pool-based movies I've seen. It's a well produced/edited film, but doesn't have the glitzy commercial feel of a mega blockbuster.I liked the lead role played by Gregory Mars Martin (Callahan). I think it allowed me to focus a little more on the movie than on some mega star (read Cruise in Color of Money.. hated that one). Granted, his character didn't seem as deep as some of the others in the movie, I didn't think it detracted from the movie at all. As for Rick Schroder, I agree with some of the other reviewers in saying he played the part of a cold, calculating (and quiet) hustler very well. He's made great in-roads into drama from his beginnings and hope to see more serious roles from him. The other actors also helped move this movie along. Walken is in his typical supporting role (a little more of him would have been nice, though, given the sometimes dark mood of the movie). Being an avid pool player myself, I enjoyed the scenes of the hustling (verbal and table play), and the trick shots. However, there was footage of some shots re-used a few times throughout the movie. And I didn't like the way it portrayed everyone as needing to drill every shot (minor nitpick). In the end, I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a good pool/hustler movie.
Rating:
Summary: Direction was good
Review: I like the simplicity of the movie and the cast; the direction kept my interest.
Rating:
Summary: Not a bad pool movie
Review: I liked the movie a lot. I think that the acting was good and Walken was a great fit in the roles like Chazz too. It may have lacked a little in the dramatics but overall the dialogue and the the poolhall atmosphere was portrayed nicely. If you are a huge pool buff or a huge pool movie buff, this may not be high on your list but still it is very well made and honestly could have been worse. Makes me wanna get a "hustler" shirt and head down to my poolhall looking like a badass.
Rating: 
Summary: Sleek and slick with the stick
Review: I think Ebert said it best in his review..."Is this a great movie? Not at all. Is it more or less consistently entertaining? Yes."
What makes this an interesting film is not its predeliction for sticking to formulaic devices. That is the reason many critics panned the film. They failed to look past the originality factor and just sit back and enjoy a well crafted and acted movie. This film was designed with style and fun, that you are sucked into Johnny's pool playing.
Let me start by saying Mars Callahan reminded me a lot of John Cusack in this film. And that's not a bad thing. He mixes confidence with style and ends up at times to be pulling a Vince Vaughn (ala the scene where he pulls the waiter aside, "Excuse me, handsome, you got anything else in this joint besides champagne?"). He has four lackeys who idolize him who often add humorous conversations to the movie.
When Johnny is having fun, the viewer is having fun. A notable difference from Rounders is the girl isnt nearly as annoying. Where I felt I needed to shoot her in Rounders, here she is more tolerant of the main character.
Walken brings a nice touch to the film, but he could have been used a bit more. His relationship with Johnny is barely touched upon, but more or less implied by what he ends up doing for him. A little more development in that respect would have been nice. We get a more defined relationship between Joe and Johnny earlier in the film, therefore by the time the end of the film rolls around, one would have liked to see how Johnny went from one mentor to another, so to speak. Walken doesn't need to tell Johnny how to play or where to play, but he just shows up more for convenience than anything.
Even Johnny's brother, Danny, goes from rational to irrational, just from a game of pool. It takes a couple of scenes to show how much the game can alter someone's future.
Despite sticking to formula, and injecting some trickery with rhetoric, the film was highly enjoyable. Some will label it Swingers meets Rounders meets Gone in 60 Seconds, but whatever the comparisons, Poolhall Junkies is a film worthy of its own merit. I mean, how many times have you seen a movie take recycled material and actually make it worth watching? Poolhall Junkies does in a big way.
Rating:
Summary: little indie film = big surprise!
Review: i was not expecting much out of this movie when i recently rented it. that was a week ago. six days ago i went out and bought myself a copy of this film. i was blown away by this flick. let me preface this by saying, i in no way think this is the best written, best acted movie i have ever seen, but it is by far one of the best overall! this movie has alot of heart for being a low budget indie flick! palminteri and walken (as usual) are wonderful in the movie. martin (who also directs) does a very solid job in his lead role. this movie follows a pool-hustler (martin) as he is trying to give up the con. while he attempts to give it up, it seems to constantly pull him back in. following him along the way are a brother, his friends, and a girlfriend who is a young lawyer. this movie has a well-written, fast-paced, witty script. poolhall junkies was such a pleasant surprise for me that my copy has been viewed at least three times already as i continue to show it to my friends, who also love the film. i highly recommend it for anyone looking for a good, entertaining movie!
Rating:
Summary: Decent underground movie, was pleasantly surprised.
Review: I wasn't really sure, when I bought this movie, what to expect. As I started to watch it I liked what I saw for its entertainment value. I've played pool and I've won money doing it so I have a small clue about what's involved in it. Movies are all about creating drama. When you see people shooting continuous 5 rail shots to win $80K, it's only for the heightened emotional effect. For those of you looking for "real life" in a movie, stick to the documentary genre. The shots are pretty and that's the hook/point. The acting is what you would expect given the names involved, though I still like the movie regardless of it. The scene in the bathroom between Walken and Callahan is a great one. Walkens monolog, done in one shot, shows why he continues to be ranked highly among wanted screen actors. Also Rod Steiger makes a last appearance in this film before his death.
The one thing I felt let down about was listening to the Directors Audio Commentary. Mars Callahan does the majority of commentary having directed and co-wrote the movie. After listening to portions of his diatribe and egomania concerning his acting, I lost the measure of respect I had gained for him from the film. Whether you do or not is dependent on your own outlook. Overall I would watch the film, but if you liked it and found it to be entertaining as I did, skip the commentary.
Rating: 
Summary: Holy Living ...
Review: I went to see this flick when it was in theaters and was disappointed to say the least. I could not believe how ridiculously un-cool and un-hip it was. The worst aspect of the film is writer/director/actor Mars Callahan. He directs like a cut-rate Guy Ritchie and acts like a poor man's Ben Affleck, which pretty much makes him broke. He is mugging the whole time. The film also filled with unrealistic characters that the audience doesn't care about who spurt wooden, forced dialogue. The only decent moments are when Christopher Walken is on screen, and those are not enough to make this movie tolerable. Avoid Poolhall Junkies at all costs. It doesn't matter how much you love pool, this movie is just plain bad.
Rating:
Summary: Well Worth Your Time!
Review: I'm not much for words but I really love this movie, I own it and I've watched it several times...and all of my friends love it! Check it out you won't be disappointed. Thank you for your time.
Rating:
Summary: fantastic, absolutely fantastic! a high 5, man!
Review: interesting movie with lota good actors. can't believe this script has been overlooked for ten years. although mars callahan is not baby faced handsome guy but surely he can write, direct, and act. very fun and enjoyable movie. yo, amazon guys, read the cover, who's gregory 'mars' martin? it's mars callahan! where did you get this name from? were you high again? hehehe. buy this dvd. it's fun and exciting. shooting pool is really cool!
Rating:
Summary: Alittle hustler in everyone
Review: Need a movie you can pop in more than once, this is it. I have to admit that after watching this movie I have spent a few too many hours around a pool table. The only problem, I can't get the sound track out of my head.
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