The Color of Money

The Color of Money (1986)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver
Memorable Line(s): "You walk into a pool room with that go-go-go, the guys'll be killing each other, trying to get to you."

It's a rare sequel that takes place 25 years after the original, but "The Hustler" was an exceptional movie. The Color of Money has the asset of the cross-generational super casting of Tom Cruise and Paul Newman.

The Plot of The Color of Money
Newman plays Fast Eddie Felson, a former pool prodigy, but it's many years later when he spots of the raw talent of Vincent (Cruise), a high strung, young hustler who needs some polishing. Actually, a lot of polishing. The transition from raw talent to pro takes a lot of patience, but Eddie has that, plus an ulterior motive -- to see if he has what it takes to get back into the game. Eddie uses whatever it takes to make Vincent a player and that includes Vincent's woman, Carmen (Mastrantonio).

The Performances and Direction of The Color of Money
This is not Scorsese's best film as there seems to be authentic core missing from the movie, but the charismatic duo of Cruise and Newman make make it work for the most part. Mastrantonio is alluring and tough as Carmen, but Helen Shaver has a thankless and mostly characterless part.

There's a superb camera work that is a trademark of Scorsese movies including some great sequences of pool play.

Summary Judgment on The Color of Money
The draw to the movie is the dynamic between Newman and Cruise. Cruise brings a lot of energy to the role and Newman is truly the mentor, playing it cool and aloof. And this team makes The Color of Money worth watching.