The Color of Money
The Color of Money

The Color of Money

1986Movie119 minEnglish

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

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Insights

IMDb7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes92%
Metacritic77/100
Google Users85%
Director: Martin ScorseseGenres: Drama, Sport

Plot Summary

Fast Eddie Felson, a retired, legendary pool player, decides to mentor a young, ambitious hustler named Vincent Lauria. As Eddie attempts to mold Vincent into a champion, he rediscovers his own passion for the game and confronts his past. Their journey takes them through the gritty world of professional pool, culminating in a high-stakes tournament in Atlantic City.

Critical Reception

The Color of Money was a critical and commercial success, earning praise for its direction, performances, and depiction of the pool hall subculture. Tom Cruise and Paul Newman received particular acclaim for their roles, with Newman reprising his iconic character from 'The Hustler'.

What Reviewers Say

  • Paul Newman delivers a career-defining performance, brilliantly portraying the aging hustler.
  • Martin Scorsese's dynamic direction brings energy and style to the world of professional pool.
  • The mentor-mentee dynamic between Newman and Cruise is compelling, despite some predictable plot turns.

Google audience: Audiences lauded the film for its strong performances, particularly from Paul Newman, and the engaging portrayal of the competitive pool playing environment. Some viewers found the plot to be somewhat formulaic but appreciated the character development and Scorsese's signature directorial flair.

Awards & Accolades

Paul Newman won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Eddie Felson, marking his first Oscar win. The film also received nominations for Best Supporting Actor (Tom Cruise), Best Director, and Best Original Song.

Fun Fact

During filming, Paul Newman and Tom Cruise actually played pool against each other, with Newman, despite his advanced age, reportedly holding his own.

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TMDB Reviews

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CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Following on from the enjoyable "Hustler" (1961), Paul Newman's "Eddie" takes the cocky but green pool player "Vincent" (Tom Cruise") under his wing so he can teach him how to win and to win big. Initially hostile to the idea, "Vincent" rea...