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Yo!!!

****Spoilers Below****

I absolutely loved THIS MOVIE!! I think it's a brilliant continuation of Fast Eddie Felson’s story!! Paul Newman’s performance is nothing short of iconic, showcasing his incredible range as an actor. I definitely rambled on and made no sense in my outro, so here is my attempt to write something in honour of how much I appreciate Paul Newman's Artistry!!

I loved his growth in the film from the first. His transition from the cocky, young pool shark of the original to a world-weary mentor figure, rediscovering his passion for the game. I think this evolution was an inspirational take on revisiting a character. His portrayal of Eddie’s redemption arc and reclaiming his love for pool after years away from it is both heartfelt and captivating, and my favourite part of this movie. The way Newman balances charm, hardened, and vulnerability makes every scene he’s in unforgettable. Eddie’s journey of self-discovery proves you can return to what you love with renewed purpose. I loved his breakdown scene so so much. And his outdoor scream of victory outside! AHH he's remarkable!

Martin Scorsese is a master storyteller and creates atmosphere and aesthetic so damn well. Scorsese’s dynamic camera work and vibrant visuals elevate the pool halls in this movie, transforming them into arenas of high stakes and raw emotion. The chemistry between Newman and a young Tom Cruise, who plays the cocky but talented Vincent, is awesome. Their mentor-student dynamic was an intriguing aspect of this film, exploring themes of ambition, legacy, and the cost of pursuing greatness.

One standout aspect I forgot to mention but did kinda hint at in my long ass outro! is how the film captures the evolution of pool culture. Where The Hustler was gritty and somber, The Colour of Money feels alive with 1980s flair. Really showcasing the pool tables! I loved the black and white of The Hustler, but the colour and shots in this film really elevated the aesthetic for me, as well as the green symbolism of money. The Rock music soundtrack kicked ass, and a faster pace that mirrored the changing times was cool to see.

Note: I experienced a technical issue while recording. My computer crashed, and I thought my mic was on! Apologies for any audio hiccups, but I'm pleased to report that I managed a solid edit this time. Tech issues always sting, but the show must go on! My backup mic saved the day, though I’m considering investing in a higher-quality one for these rare emergencies. Fortunately, they don’t happen often!

xx

ames

Files

The Colo(u)r of Money (1986)

I had a major crash on my computer - I thought my mic levels were on, but no... I tried my best to fix the backup mic echo - I thought I did a decent job this time LOL

Comments

Toc

Wow! Good morning! Just got my tea, only to find this posted! Perfect way to spend a Saturday morning! Thanks! Love the write-up, contrasting the "80s flair" with the hard-boiled black & white....but how both capture pool culture so well. Excited to see this because this is a Scorsese movie that most of us kinda forget about and don't rewatch as much as his other 80s work/classic work. Anyways, thanks Ames! See you on the other side!

Henry Graham

This was Scorsese's second film with Michael Ballhaus as cinematographer, following After Hours, and I think you can see in these movies how that relationship liberated his direction and added new tools to his visual language. His predecessor Michael Chapman favoured more measured and stately camera work, but Ballhaus (who was used to working at a crazy pace with Fassbinder) brings a real dynamism and energy to it, and these films really set the stage for the next phase of Scorsese's career. It's so interesting to think about the nature of movie stardom through this film. Tom Cruise is 63 years old now and still in action star mode. Paul Newman was 61 when he made this film and he had consciously embraced his status as an older actor four years earlier when he made The Verdict (his best performance, for my money), which resulted in him finding new layers and levels of richness and vulnerability in his acting. When will Cruise take that step? I do think this movie is a triumph of casting, capturing both stars at the perfect moment in their careers to create this fascinating dynamic between the arrogance and impetuosity of youth versus the wisdom of experience. Also, shout-out to the great novelist Richard Price, whose keen ear for the rhythms of speech really brings this screenplay to life.

Catchermag

Am I right in thinking you’ve not seen Cool Hand Luke?

RFK Fan

Got to work as an extra in this movie only because the scene they filmed was so close to where I lived. Holzer-Roche Casting was a brand new background casting agency and my GF at the time signed us up (think Color of Money was one of their first movies but they went on to do many of the John Hughes films and Backdraft) Scorsese chose to shoot this movie in Chicago and they were spotted all over town filming (The Tap Room on Lincoln Ave. was a big one) I was called to be background for a restaurant scene filming in Highland Park . That was it. Very vague. No word about what movie, who was in it or even what restaurant. But what gave it away was the production company’s name was at the top of the call sheet (I don’t remember no what it was ) but after making a few calls I found out it was The Color of Money. My GF and I quickly agreed and I called in sick so I could work on it (almost got fired later when my boss discovered why I called in). Turned out the RESTAURANT SCENE was the local DENNY’s on Rt 41. The trucks, tents, and Star wagons were scattered throughout the Kmart parking lot behind it. Once we checked in and sat down with the few dozen other extras we heard that Paul Newman wasn’t in this scene and you could hear the air go out of the room. Cruise and Mastrantonio were there but spent almost all their time in their trailers. Scorsese was there setting up his cameras and we were ushered from the tent into the restaurant a few times by the background director and given our direction. They used the corner booth facing the street for the main shots and filmed a few scenes of Vincent and Carmen entering the restaurant that they never used. Then the impossible happened! As we were still seated in the restaurant in walked Fast Eddie Felson! You could hear a pin drop as everyone was star struck. They filmed a tracking shot of Eddie getting out of his car and walking into the restaurant, looking around and joining Vincent and Carmen. He walked right past our booth but sadly it never made the cut. The only scene left in was the 3 of them sitting in the corner booth talking strategy which we never even got to see shot because it was done in all medium and close ups and most of the restaurant wasn’t visible. The big gossip among the extras was Cruises hairdo!! My GF thought it looked sooooo goofy! I thought Mary ElizabethMastrantonio looked amazing and everyone agreed Paul Newman looked fantastic. The extra who played the hostess relayed how she was placed next to Paul for a shot and while the camera team blocked the scene she found herself standing beside him and he turned to her and smiled HELLO. She about died. Said her legs were visibly shaking. I couldn’t believe how tiny Scorsese was. He has to be 5 feet tall. although it wasn’t a big scene in the movie we all lucked out in that the 3 main actors were all on set that day. My pay for 16 hours? A cool $100… 🤑

Joe R

Newman won the Oscar for best actor for this film. His only Oscar win for best actor.

Reggie

Paul Newman was about 60 years old when this film was made, and as someone who will turn 54 in three days, I found myself identifying a lot more with him now than when I first saw this film decades ago. I've heard it said that the biggest surprise in a man's life is old age. People have this irrational notion when they are young that it won't happen to them.......then the years pass by faster than you expected and there you are. Father Time is undefeated, but one great thing about the game of pool that this film reminds you of is that someone can play it at a very high level at an advanced age. There was a world-class player named Irving Crane who played competitively in professional pool tournaments into his seventies. In fact they actually make special billiard glasses with high lenses (I got a pair myself a couple of years ago.) I was a part of the pool hall scene primarily in my late teens/early twenties (late 1980s/early 1990s). It was a very interesting experience, and something I don't regret. However, there were a lot of seedy aspects to that culture I was emersed in, and I can understand why competitive pool has a flawed reputation. This is a reason why professional pool tournaments don’t draw the sponsorships that other competitions do and have relatively poor prize money as a result. It is VERY difficult to make a living playing pool, even for extremely skilled players. When I got older, I played on an APA league team (in Canada you can join the CPA - https://poolplayers.com/canada/ - 😊. It was a lot of fun and something I’m considering doing again. One thing I would note about the film is that it included a number of actual professional players. Legendary One-Pocket player Grady Matthews was the fellow that told Eddie he reminded him of someone he played twenty years earlier. The guy who told Eddie that “he didn’t deserve that” was Steve “The Miz” Mizerak, one of the greatest straight pool players to ever live. Grady Seasons was played by Keith “Earthquake” McCready, who did have an unconventional style of play. His side-armed stroke is said to have come from his playing at such a young age that he could barely see over the table. He is one of the most phenomenally talented players to ever pick up a cue, and is hilarious when he engages in trash talk! Great reaction Ames! Thanks for the watching both The Hustler and The Color of Money!

Marshmallow Venom (실리콘 밸리)

I'm just about to start "The Colour of Money" but I wanted to suggest "The Queen's Gambit" as a future reaction. It, like this movie, is based on a novel by Walter Tevis. I've read "The Queen's Gambit," and liked it, but the show is right up there with Band of Brothers as my favorite limited series EVER. Post movie comments: Ames, your reaction was great, as expected. I don't have a lot to say, as I vastly prefer "The Hustler," but TCOM is entertaining, beautifully filmed, and is, I think, a logical continuation of the life of Fast Eddie Felson. For me, there just is no foil like Minnesota Fats or a tragic character like Sarah. Piper Laurie just breaks my heart in "The Hustler." What I like about TCOM is the same things you liked - how Eddie reacts to getting older. From the shock of the pool hall that's now a storage space, you can see that every aspect of his life seems to revolve around the fact that the world is a different place. I've seen this three times now - first in the theater, when I was 23, then about 25 years ago, when I was 37, and now at age 62, and to say that I understand Eddie a lot more now is a massive understatement. I'm glad to have seen it again and I really enjoyed your reaction to it.

Clay F

Paul Newman blows me away. He's so good. Agree that the movie has a cool opening. Also, being in color does add, especially with the table and the balls. I noticed that he still drinking J.T.S. Seems like losing to (being hustled by) Amos (Forrest Whitaker) was a catalyst.

Henry Graham

I just got around to watching this reaction, and really enjoyed revisiting the film with you. I liked what you said afterwards about how Scorsese has such compelling female characters in his films, as I feel that is an often underrated aspect of his work, with people focusing on the masculinity in his pictures. I love Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's performance in this. She creates such a sharp, watchful, self-assured character - in some ways she is Eddie's true protégé. On the subject of Scorsese's relationship to women, I like the story from early in his career, when he was trying to get the job of directing Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore in 1974. Ellen Burstyn told him that she watched Mean Streets and it had only one female role, and she asked "Do you know anything about women?" Scorsese replied, "No, but I'd like to learn!" He got the job, and Burstyn won an Oscar.