The Color of Money (1986)

 The Color of Money (1986)

The 1980’s was an interesting decade for Martin Scorsese. After beginning the decade with one of his all-time classics, Raging Bull, he spent the rest of the decade experimenting with different styles thus creating a stage in his career that people begin to know as “Minor Scorsese.” Funnily enough, these movies including The Color of Money, is better than most director’s films. This particular film is Scorsese going more mainstream but keeping his techniques from After Hours intact. The dark lighting and colors usage, his use of panning camera angles, and a rock-heavy soundtrack are techniques that you may be familiar with. As for this particular film, it’s the sequel to the 1961 Paul Newman hit The Hustler which is an unlikely tale for Scorsese to tackle. It is a good film, but I consider this the director’s weakest (yep, he still has never made a bad movie.)

 

I am someone that is not infatuated with the sport of pool. Despite many good cinematic elements, I could not consider The Hustler to be the ultimate classic many people consider it to be. And once again, those same thoughts apply for the sequel. It is not a bad movie, but the story itself is not as interesting because of my thoughts about pool. If this film was directed by anyone else, I probably would not have considered giving the film a watch. Luckily, Marty knows his way around characters, including strong female characters. The screenplay was written by Richard Price, based off the Walter Trevis novel. His screenplay is about a man in a different stage in his life who mentors a younger man which incites the fire of old in him. A story that we have seen a million times before, but Scorsese is able to create some energy and develop interesting characters to keep the story from boring us out of our minds.

 

Fast Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) is back twenty-five years later. He no longer plays pool after being forced into retirement from the events of The Hustler. When he sees young hotshot named Vincent (Tom Cruise) playing pool, he decides to take him under his wing and teach him the tricks of the trade. He uses this opportunity to find a path towards redemption. Fast Eddie uses Vincent’s older girlfriend, Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) to lure Vincent towards the money. Sadly, Eddie sees very clearly that history is about to repeat itself.

 

This is the role that Paul Newman finally won his Oscar for. He should have won it for different, earlier films but he still put forth a very strong performance. He famously did not attend the ceremony because he felt like he would jinx his chances. Still, he made for a great father figure/teacher. Tom Cruise is born to play the cocky character that believes he is always right. First Top Gun, now this film. He gotta do something about that wild haircut, however. Scorsese knows his way around strong female characters and that is what Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio’s character is. She plays an older girlfriend who is thrilled by the money and pool life and is charmed by Fast Eddie. She is not the average “supportive girlfriend.”

 

The Color of Money is a good movie to watch. Scorsese does some deep character work within his characters. Ultimately, the film’s narrative is familiar. When Scorsese works on original films, they are magical. Here, he just expands on a film from someone else’s mind that was released twenty-five years earlier. He does not really have anything new to add. That said, minor Scorsese is still better than a lot of movies. This may be his weakest or one of his weakest, but still expect an engaging film with good work from Paul Newman and Tom Cruise.

 

My Grade: B