Rating: 
Summary: Paul Newman teachers Tom Crusie about pool and acting
Review: "The Color of Money" is the movie for which Paul Newman finally won his Oscar for Best Actor in 1987, having been given an Honorary Award the year before when the Academy noticed it had passed him over for a quarter of a century. During that time Newman was nominated for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "The Hustler," "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke," "Rachel, Rachel," "Absence of Malice," and "The Verdict." If you go back and look at the other nominees each year you certainly cannot say that he was ever robbed. His best performance, in "Cool Hand Luke," lost out to Rod Steiger for "In the Heat of the Night," and was also up against Warren Beatty for "Bonnie and Clyde," Dustin Hoffman for "The Graduate," and Spencer Tracy posthumously for "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." Nor can you say that the Oscar for "The Color of Money" was a gift, given Newman was up against Dexter Gordon for "'Round Midnight," William Hurt in "Children of a Lesser God," Bob Hoskins for "Mona Lisa," and James Woods in "Salvador."
I take this extended trip down memory lane because when I watched "The Color of Money" again I kept thinking more about the actors than the story and performances. Not only was I aware that this was Newman's Oscar winning-performance but I was also thinking about how this was another one of the films where Tom Cruise played second fiddle to an established actor (i.e., Hoffman in "Rain Man") and enhanced his own reputation as an actor as well as a movie star. Of course, if you want to learn about being both an actor and a mega-movie star, then who better to be your tutor and role model than Paul Newman?
Newman is once again playing Fast Eddie Felson, whom we first met a long time ago in "The Hustler." But automatically labeling "The Color of Money" a sequel to the 1961 film is really a mistake. It might be the same actor playing the same character but he is a different person. If "The Hustler" is before, then "The Color of Money" is after, and we missed the entire during part of Eddie's life. The movie makes much more sense as another one of those where the old pro teaches the young kid how to play the game. But since this is modern times the kid gets to teach one or two things back at the old guy as well.
Eddie has put the high-stakes pool games behind him and earns his living as a successful liquor salesman. Then one night he sees Vince (Cruise) playing pool and Eddie is intrigued. Not only is Vincent good, but he is also a complete "flake," and Eddie sees the opportunity to use this gimmick to make a killing at the pool tables where the big boys play for big money. Controlling the kid is the problem, so Eddie gets Vincent's girlfriend, Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), to help steer him in the right direction. Of course this one is going to come down to Eddie and Vincent playing against each other, which is and yet is not what happens. Unfortunately, this takes away from our pleasure in watching Eddie manipulate Vincent, because now we have to rethink everything that happened in the film.
"The Color of Money" is also the Martin Scorsese that least seems to me to be a Martin Scorses movie. But the director certainly knows how to feature his start. The best moment in the movie comes when Fast Eddie is going to break a rack of balls for the first time in a long, long time. He bends over the table and sees his own reflection in the eight ball and then Scorsese smashes into a powerful close-up.
Yeah, this is Paul Newman's movie. When you compare "The Color of Money" to "The Hustler" you are going to be more aware of Newman's growth as an actor than you are of the changes in the character. This is a classic acting lesson on how less is more, and I think you can tell from his own growth as an actor that Tom Cruise was either taking notes or has been watching this particular film more often than he has his blockbusters.
Rating: 
Summary: The Color of Money
Review: 1 star is for DVD. Again, Touchstone states that the letterbox format is enhanched for widescreen tvs (16:9) on the back of the case under special features, but when DVD player is set on 16:9, it is not enhanched. And don't tell me my DVD player is broken; I tried this on 5 DVD players and still the same result. Very good movie ONCE AGAIN made bad by Touchstone. 4.1 surround!?!?
Rating: 
Summary: "A Great Movie"
Review: A classic... my brothers and I started an inadverdent ritual of watching this movie once every winter. The movie has some great scenes and some interesting characters with wonderful (I think it's flawless) acting done by the actors/actresses... I saw "The Hustler" a while back, and I thought it dragged compared to this one. I'm baffled as to why "The Color of Money" is not available in widescreen format; hope it is soon...
Rating:
Summary: A Complex Classic
Review: After having seen this movie many times, I came to realize it has more than one "level." It is a "good" movie as pure light entertainment. However, when you really study the movie during several viewings, you realize Scorsese is telling us, through lots of metaphors, what motivates people as they travel through life. At this level, this movie is an outstanding classic. Some other reviewers don't like the ending; I think it is perfect. However, there is a critical scene that, if missed or misunderstood, gives the film a different meaning. That scene is near the end where Vince (Cruise) says Felson (Newman) has used Vince and his girlfriend. Felson admits this is true. This is a critical explanation of the plot. Fast Eddie Felson was forced to stay out of pool rooms for many years (see the ending of The Hustler). After more than 25 years, he is searching for a pool player that might be good enough to beat Fast Eddie Felson (Minnesota Fats is no longer around). Fast Eddie Felson develops and trains Vince so Fast Eddie will have someone play against. After 25+ years, Fast Eddie is still trying to be the best, but he needs a worthy opponent. At the same time, Fast Eddie has to train and regain his own skills. At the end of the movie, even if he loses to Vince, he will keep trying to get better until he can eventually win. But, at least he has a worthy opponent. Until he discovered Vince, he knew there was probably no one he could not eventually beat. One other suggestion: Some reviewers complained about the sound. Try listening to the movie using a very good pair of headphones. You will be amazed at what you hear. Also, for those who might not know, the musical score was by Robbie Robertson, the leader of The Band. In summary, this movie is on my list of the top 5 ever made.
Rating:
Summary: A Complex Classic
Review: After having seen this movie many times, I came to realize it has more than one "level." It is a "good" movie as pure light entertainment. However, when you really study the movie during several viewings, you realize Scorsese is telling us, through lots of metaphors, what motivates people as they travel through life. At this level, this movie is an outstanding classic. Some other reviewers don't like the ending; I think it is perfect. However, there is a critical scene that, if missed or misunderstood, gives the film a different meaning. That scene is near the end where Vince (Cruise) says Felson (Newman) has used Vince and his girlfriend. Felson admits this is true. This is a critical explanation of the plot. Fast Eddie Felson was forced to stay out of pool rooms for many years (see the ending of The Hustler). After more than 25 years, he is searching for a pool player that might be good enough to beat Fast Eddie Felson (Minnesota Fats is no longer around). Fast Eddie Felson develops and trains Vince so Fast Eddie will have someone play against. After 25+ years, Fast Eddie is still trying to be the best, but he needs a worthy opponent. At the same time, Fast Eddie has to train and regain his own skills. At the end of the movie, even if he loses to Vince, he will keep trying to get better until he can eventually win. But, at least he has a worthy opponent. Until he discovered Vince, he knew there was probably no one he could not eventually beat. One other suggestion: Some reviewers complained about the sound. Try listening to the movie using a very good pair of headphones. You will be amazed at what you hear. Also, for those who might not know, the musical score was by Robbie Robertson, the leader of The Band. In summary, this movie is on my list of the top 5 ever made.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow, mediocre film.
Review: After reading all the hype about "Color of Money" I decided I simply must see this "great" movie... I was greatly dissapointed. The movie starts slow, continues at a crawling pace, and then limps across the finish line. The script is terrible with absolutely no meat to the plot. The only good parts of the film were the trick shots by some of the hustlers. Don't waste your time with "Color of Money."
Rating:
Summary: Pool movie for Pool Sharks
Review: Being the greatest pool player west side of Needles and East side of Barstow California, I must say, this is one helluva movie for billiard snakes. Trick shots, great acting, and more trick shots. Although the ending wasn't very spectacular, the portrial of a pool shark is as real as it gets. Speaking from a pool shark's point of view, I have to say, this movie is for reals. If you'd like to get into the billiards, rent this movie and learn a thing or two first! The cue used in this movie is a Balabushka, too bad they didn't have Minnesota Fats "The Hustler" Graphite Cues. ay of irvine
Rating:
Summary: The Color of Money
Review: Great movie from begining to end, but the ending could have been better. Great cinematography makes this movie action packed and fast paced(heh...i even learned some new shots so i can do beter at pool). Great movie...but doesn't have to be [the price]. DVD is not worth it-it doesn't even have a thearical trailer. 4.1 surround! WHAT IS THAT?!?! I don't know, but Touchstone should improve their DVD production. But the quality is excelent and I geuss the sound is, but it could have been 5.1. 4 stars cuz' of bad DVD
Rating:
Summary: The 9-Ball Rims The Pocket....Yet Doesn't Quite Fall
Review: I love pool. I love to shoot it, to watch and study it. I liked this movie, and to be truthful, this movie is what started my interest and desire to play pool. Of course I've seen The Hustler and it is a far superior movie, it just re-enforced my desire to play even more. The Color Of Money is 20+yrs on from The Hustler. Fast Eddie is now a liquor salesman, and even though he's very good at it, the desire to play and return to shooting is still as strong in his blood as it was at end of The Hustler after whipping Minnesota Fats. Felson comes upon Vincent ( played by a young Tom Cruise ) and decides to take him under his wing to show him the ropes and the "hustles" that make the money in the pool halls. Cruise is actually good as the "green" young apprentice and Newman is fabulous as the seasoned Felson. Newman does bring the same intensity to Fast Eddie which makes the clash of styles between him and Cruise extremely interesting in the first half of the movie. I don't really care for the way the film pans out, with Newman getting hustled by a great Forrest Whittaker character, and especially the anti-climatic ending. Scorsese sets the film up for a big show down and ends it with nothing. What was the problem? Surely the studio could have afforded another 5 minutes of celluloid to see Fast Eddie beat Cruise... however this movie is enjoyable....but no matter how many times you watch it.... the 9 ball doesn't fall off the break.
Rating:
Summary: The Color Of Money: The coolest Scorsese flick
Review: I've said it before and I'll say it again: Martin Scorsese is one of the best directors living today. Films like Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Raging Bull, The King Of Comedy, and his most recent The Aviator are modern day classics.
The Color Of Money is also on the list of Scorsese's movie portfolio, and it's also one of the best movies made in general. The film stars Paul Newman (The Hustler) and Tom Cruise (Jerry Maguire, Rain Man) as hustlers out to make big cash in the pool halls. Newman reprises his role as Fast Eddie Felson, from 1961's film The Hustler, an oldtimer who is looking for new talent to sport around, Tom Cruise plays his target Vincent, a talented pool player and potential hustler. Felson teaches Vincent and his girl sidekick Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) everything there is to know about professional hustling and then out they go across country hustling through every state they pass on their way to the big championship in Atlanta. The highlight of the film is in the tense relationship between the desperate Felson, the crazy jealous Vincent and the manipulative Carmen, and how they manage to work as a team.
Recommended
A
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