I've never been more aroused by a film's editing and cinematography than that featured in The Color of Money, a film which I ultimately enjoyed more than it's predecessor The Hustler. It just so happens I first watched The Color of Money during my time as a film student and attempted to replicate many of the film's shots and edits for a music video (and an intentionally 80's music video at that) as I studied the cuts present in the film frame by frame. Needless to say I was not entirely successful in my endeavour. The Color of Money has the fast pace and rhythm of MTV music videos but still with a sense of old school class and sophistication; right from the opening credits I can tell this would be a movie dripping in atmosphere. A movie so snappy, fast paced and full of quick edits, many of which come unexpectedly along with many unconventional camera movements yet it never feels disorientating or distracting as the scenes glide with such fluidity and ease. The cinematography on display here isn't that of a David Lean production, no this is a movie which largely takes place in bars and pool halls yet it still has a sense of majesty and scope even if the shot in question is a close up of drinking glass. Really the only edit I can fault is the very cheesy freeze frame of Paul Newman jumping out of a swimming pool. On the other hand nobody uses licensed soundtracks better than Martin Scorsese. I get the impression scenes in the film where shot with the music in mind and not as an afterthought. With the opening scene it feels like Phil Collins' One More Night was specifically composed to fit the mood and tone of the scene.The Color of Money however is not style over substance. I love the intriguing character triangle of a trio of hustlers as well as the harmony of two generations coming together. Tom Cruise is an actor I only like in certain parts but in roles such as Vincent, a cocky, male fantasy indulging character who embodies the entrepreneurial and capitalistic spirit of the 1980's (like his character in Risky Business), I simply revel in - as Eddie puts it "a natural character". Just as impressive are pool shots done by Cruise himself (he performed all but one of his own trick shots); makes me energised to play some pool myself.

I agree with many things written here about direction, acting, pool shooting etc. What I don't get here is the plot. The movie seems two consist of two parts which don't really connect, though you'd expect them to. Fast Eddie took young Vince with him in order to teach him the tactics of losing and winning, with the final goal of betting on him against low odds and making big bucks for everyone. After a series of hustling scenes, some involving Vince's girlfriend Carmen, Eddie falls for one himself. He becomes over-emotional about it in a way that totally doesn't fit his character so far. Then, against any sense, his frustration leads him to give up on Vince. He yells at Carmen and him to continue to Atlantic City on their own, as he can't teach Vince anything anymore. At this point of the movie I was SURE that this dramatic move was a part of some big plan that Eddie had, and actually wondered how come Carmen and Vince bought it so easily. But as it turned out... there was no big plan. When they met in Atlantic City I was excepting something really interesting to happen and… nothing did. As the movie ended when Eddie and Vince matching, Eddie saying "I'm back!", I thought that perhaps the whole journey was a scam hiding the fact that Eddie was still in good shape. I came here assuming that the FAQ would answer my questions. But… nothing? This is just it? Eddie financed the journey just to use Vince's talent for a short while and small money? And then Eddie decided to return playing? Is that all? Disappointed.

Maybe you once spent some time in Hollywood? Maybe you did not? On this next point you should trust your friendly reviewer. The values are different. The goals are different. The yardstick for measuring success is different. As always, other IMDb reviewers have covered the story and highlighted some of the most interesting moments. But what is missing from those reviews is how anxiously the "boys" were looking forward to seeing how this experiment panned out. For some of us the "pot of gold" at the end of the rainbow is money. For others fame. For the mavens in Tinseltown, it was getting a definitive answer to one of the most elusive mysteries in the biz -- can an actor well past his prime "revisit" one of his greatest roles (actually one of the greatest performances ever set to celluloid, period) after a lay-off of 25 years, and still deliver the goods? Recall (assuming you are a fight fan) that Ali could never, even after just a few years on the sidelines, bring back the speed and the snap he had BEFORE he was suspended. Frankly, you have to give Newman credit for even attempting to bring Fast Eddie back to life. Did he succeed? If you are looking for a definitive answer from me, I don't have one. I will say that the attempt, while on the one hand heroic, was at the very same time a serious cautionary tale for any actor thinking of trying the same stunt. The tone and direction were different. And the financial guys, the suits, did what they always do in this sort of situation, they threw in a younger guy as "insurance" to make sure the film didn't flop while waiting for the geriatrics to show up on the wheelchair ramp. (They needn't have bothered, this is possibly Tom Cruise's worst performance next to FAR AND AWAY and completely forgettable). If you are a film fan, and you have seen HUSTLER, oh, maybe six or twenty times, then you owe it to yourself to check our this longshot. Otherwise, give it a pass.

Fast Eddie Felson finds promising pool player Vincent in a local bar and he sees in him a younger version of himself.To try and make it like he did 25 years ago, Eddie offers to teach Vincent how to be a hustler. After some hesitation, Vincent accepts and Eddie takes him and Vincent's girlfriend on a tour through the country to work the pool halls.However, Vincent's tendency to show off his talent, warning off the players and losing money, soon leads to confrontation. with Eddie....The film shouldn't have worked, back when this film was made, it was a rarity to have a twenty five year old classic to have a sequel out of the blue, and be actually any good.But this pulls it off, and then some. Newman is wonderful as the ageing hustler, and every loss and every dollar lost, is etched on his acting and his swagger.Cruise gives just as good as Vincent, and at the same time, he's likable and insufferable, not the Cruise we've had since 1990.Scorcese pulls the viewer in and makes the most mundane situations electrifying, who else could make a bunch of old men sitting in a room smoking and drinking hitting balls this exciting.and the final twist, is not just brilliant, it's crushing to Eddie.The soundtrack is great, adding to the narrative, and all in all it's a brilliant story about coming to terms with getting old and losing certain skills, and despite the fact that it's a fun movie also, it's pretty depressing when you look at it from Eddies point of view.