The Color of Money (1986)

Director: Martin Scorsese

Writers: Walter Tevis, Richard Price

Composer: Robbie Robertson

Starring:  Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver, John Turturro, Bill Cobbs, Iggy Pop, Forest Whitaker, Bruce A. Young

More info: IMDb

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 protege the ropes of pool hustling, which in turn inspires him to make an unlikely comeback.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

I haven't seen this since the 80s and I'd forgotten every single thing about it.  It's about as long as it's been since I saw THE HUSTLER (1961), the film who's sequel this is.  How about that big ass hair on Tom Cruise?  He's an annoying fuck in this and it's probably how most of his haters see him as in real life.  But then most of his career (until lately it seems) was built on cocky and sure-as-fuck characters.  In this picture it works and you can clearly see how Vincent (Cruise) unknowingly pushes Eddie (Newman) in the direction he goes.  Paul Newman is fantastic.  From the first few moments of the picture which leads up to Eddie meeting becoming aware and meeting Vincent, it's a great introduction to these two characters, particularly Eddie.  What a classy actor.  It's not surprising that Newman won the Oscar in '87 for Best Actor for this role.  I'm not keen on Robertson's score.  The film felt like it could've been better suited to something classier like some cool 60s jazz.  I don't know who's responsible (either someone involved with the film or the transfer to DVD) but the music on the DVD is loud as fuck.  I frequently had to adjust the volume when the dialogue stopped and the music took over.  It was most annoying.  The story is great and I like the little turns it takes, particularly with Eddie.  The ending is great and it's one hell of a tease.  And how about that final tournament montage.  NICE!  The Touchstone DVD presents the film in non-anamorphic widescreen and devoid of even a single extra.