The Color of Money (1986)

January 13, 2023 7:38 AM

Former pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson (Paul Newman) decides he wants to return to the game by taking a pupil. He meets talented but green Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise) 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.

Also starring Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver, John Turturro, Bill Cobbs, Robert Agins, Alvin Anastasia, Randall Arney, Iggy Pop, Richard Price, Forest Whitaker.

Directed by Martin Scorsese. Screenplay by Richard Price. Based on The Color of Money by Walter Tevis. The film continues the story of pool hustler and stakehorse Edward "Fast Eddie" Felson from Tevis's first novel, The Hustler (1959), with Newman reprising his role from the 1961 film adaptation.

Music by Robbie Robertson.

88% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently streaming in the US on Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus, and Epix. Also available for digital rental. Justwatch listing.

posted by DirtyOldTown (9 comments total)

It's interesting to me that Scorsese never worked with Cruise again. It could be that they didn't get along or it could be that Cruise's preference for producing his own films the last few decades meant there wasn't a fit.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:51 AM on January 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

I actually prefer Vincent (Tom Cruise) over Fast Eddie (Paul Newman) in this movie. I don't know it's the writing or the direction or the performance, but Vincent is the better realized character, IMO. This might be a little bias talking since I think Paul Newman was way way more effective in Absence of Malice and The Verdict. And, of course, Tom Cruise pretty much steals the movie when he says "doom" and then flashes his million dollar grin.
posted by Stuka at 9:25 AM on January 13, 2023

It's interesting to me that Scorsese never worked with Cruise again.

This came out the same year as Top Gun, which began the transition from Tom Cruise the actor from Taps and All the Right Moves to the Tom Cruise (TM) brand. Maybe like so many of us, Scorsese grew frustrated with his showboat antics.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:51 AM on January 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

I still run my fingers through my hair like Vince when I hear "Werewolves of London".
posted by hanov3r at 11:59 AM on January 13, 2023

Decent movie, unnecessary sequel.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:17 PM on January 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

Great directors press Cruise to advance his game, early edition.
posted by ipe at 7:34 PM on January 13, 2023

Two and a half stars from Roger Ebert.

Newman, of course, had veto power over who would make this movie (because how could they make it without him?), and his instincts were sound in choosing Scorsese. Maybe the problems started with the story, when Newman or somebody decided that there had to be a young man in the picture; the introduction of the Cruise character opens the door for all of the preordained teacher-pupil cliches, when perhaps they should have just stayed with Newman and let him be at the center of the story.
posted by StarkRoads at 10:17 PM on January 14, 2023 [1 favorite]

I hated the ending to this movie as much as I can possibly hate any movie. I hated it!
posted by Beholder at 4:21 PM on January 15, 2023

In my head Vincent is the young version of Cruise's character from Collateral.
posted by Sebmojo at 2:46 PM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]