The Color of Money [25th Anniversary] [Blu-ray]

Director: Martin Scorsese

Overview

Oscar-nominated in 1961 for his performance as pool hustler Fast Eddie Felson in The Hustler, Paul Newman won that award a quarter century later when he reprised the role in The Color of Money. At the end of The Hustler, Felson was banned for life from playing the game professionally. In the intervening years, he has become what the despicable George C. Scott was in the 1961 film: a front man for younger hustlers, claiming the lion's share of the winnings. His latest "client" is arrogant young Tom Cruise, who is goaded into accepting Felson's patronage by his avaricious girl friend Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Cruise learns not only the refinements of the game, but also the dirty trickery that will help him lure in the suckers. As Cruise becomes successful on these terms, Felson seethes with jealousy, hitting the bottle and carelessly allowing himself to fall victim to another hustler. He tells Cruise to get lost, and vows to make an honest comeback. It is inevitable from this point onward that the younger and the older player will square off in a game for the biggest stakes of all: Fast Eddie Felson's self-respect. Both the original Hustler and The Color of Money were based on novels by Walter Tevis.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/05/2012
UPC:	0786936824001
Original Release:	1986
Rating:	R
Source:	Touchstone / Disney
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:59:00
Sales rank:	3,973

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Paul Newman	Eddie Felson
Tom Cruise	Vincent Lauria
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	Carmen
Helen Shaver	Janelle
John Turturro	Julian
Bill Cobbs	Orvis
Forest Whitaker	Amos
Keith McCready	Grady Seasons
Carol Messing	Casino Bar Band S?ngerin; Julians Flirt
Steve Mizerak	Duke
Bruce A. Young	Moselle
Randall Arney	Kunde
Lisa Dodson	Kunde
Vito D'Ambrosio	Lou
Ron Dean	Typ in der Menge
Donald A. Feeney	Schiedsrichter
Andy Nolfo	Schiedsrichter
Paul Geier	`Two Brothers/Stranger' Player
Carey Goldenberg	Congratulating Spectator
Lawrence Linn	Congratulating Spectator
Rick Mohr	Congratulating Spectator
Rodrick Selby	Congratulating Spectator
Joe Guastaferro	Chuck the Bartender
Paul Herman	Player in Casino Bar
Mark Jarvis	Guy at Janelle's
Jim Mataya	Julian's Friend in Green Room
Grady Mathews	Dud
Lloyd Moss	Resorts International Narrator
Michael Nash	Moselle's Opponent
Mario Nieves	Latino
Miguel A. Nino	Latino
Juan Ramirez	Latino
Jerry Piller	Tom
Iggy Pop	Skinny Player on the Road
Richard Price	Guy Who Calls Dud
Alex Ross	Bartender Who Bets
Charles Scorsese	High Roller
Fred Squillo	High Roller
Christina Sigel	Waitress
Harold L. Simonsen	Tournament Chief Justice
Peter Saxe	Casino Bar Band Member
Brian Sunina	Casino Bar Band Member
Jim Widlowski	Casino Bar Band Member
Wandachristine	Casino Clerk
Robert Agins	Earl at Chalkies
Zoe	Dog Walkby
Alvin Anastasia	Kennedy
Elizabeth Bracco	Diane at Bar
Jimmy Mataya	Julian's Friend in Green Room
Miguel Ni?o	1st Latin Guy
Ernest Perry Jr.	Eye Doctor
Robbie Robertson	Composer

Technical Credits

Richard Price

Martin Scorsese

Irving Axelrad	Producer
Barbara De Fina	Producer
Rick LeFevour	Stunts
Curt Smith	Special Effects
Richard Price	Screenwriter
Martin Scorsese	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

The Color of Money is ostensibly a sequel to 1961's The Hustler, but with Martin Scorsese behind the camera and another young hotshot (Tom Cruise) complementing Paul Newman's aging Fast Eddie Felson, it's a far different film than the original. Cruise is well-cast as the confident, cocky newcomer; Newman would receive his first Academy Award for the haggard, world-weary shadings he added to his character. Screenwriter Richard Price recaptures the wit and verbal cadence of the original characters, and revels in the subtle, psychological hustles they pull outside of the pool halls. In the hands of a less skillful director, the mentor-student dynamic might have seemed pat, but Scorsese imbues the theme with life. As interpreted by cameraman Michael Ballhaus, the game of pool is a living, breathing character unto itself. The film's biggest drawback may be the conspicuous absence of a climactic showdown: Scorsese intentionally leaves the characters' futures ambiguous, but viewers may feel cheated by the non-resolution.