| | | | The Color Of Money
(1986) |
wouldn't bother proving my talent to someone who didn't see it to begin with (Harold Ramis)
In a sentence, that's what 'The Color Of Money' is all about... That, and the fact that life's a bitch: your girlfriend, mentor, players and friends, are all there to serve themselves: you're everything and nothing to them; fair-weather friends and cold hard cash: expect no favours and remember to cover up when you're down, because they'll be queuing round the block to kick ya...not exactly the fun filled 80's we've come to know and love.
But then again, this is a Scorsese ('Raging Bull', 'After Hours') film; where cynicism is king, and the very least you can expect is straight up, abrasive honesty and more cool-camerawork then you can shake a Balabusha pool cue at.
In an unprecedented move: Tom Cruise overtook himself in 1986, when Tom Cruise, pepped to the post by that other great actor... Tom Cruise, went supersonic with "Top Gun', this surprisingly good sequel to Robert Rossen's 60's classic 'The Hustler' (set in the lurid underworld of bar room pool and focusing upon those who try and scam their way to the top) only found a cult audience in the cinematic fringe.
Typical huh? I mean you wait and wait for a good movie, and then two come along at once, all the more reason to rediscover The Color Of Money, for it's a good film with some excellent ensemble acting, well shot pool games, top notch hustling and Martin Scorsese at his most relaxed (only occasionally going hyper with the jump cuts; love those fast close ups though).
You don't even have to have seen the original to appreciate this, only remember that Paul Newman's character used to be somebody, but now he's not; and that's all you really need to know to enjoy 'The Color Of Money'
The movie sees Paul Newman reprise his role as methodical master and "...student of human moves..." 'Fast' Eddie Felson, who's now an old timer, selling liquor to bars and keeping a low profile.
It's in one of these seedy pubs that he comes across Vince Lauria (Cruise) a young kid who's fleecing seasoned conman Julian (John Turturro) right off the tables; more interested in an arcade game than beating his clearly outclassed rival.
Felson knows talent when he sees it, and even stops chatting up Helen Shaver to persuade Vince and his tough talking girlfriend Carmen, played with aplomb by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio ('The Abyss', 'Scarface') to come with him on a hustling tour, all the way to the big game: A 9-ball tournament in Atlantic city.
After some convincing, Vince and Carmen hit the road with Eddie, and it's on this journey that the three find out what's what in terms of their relationships with one another, and the extent to which the pursuit of money governs their behaviour and mindset ...Oh, and they shoot some pool as well.
 Don't forget that The Color Of Money is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
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The Color of Money is a very different film in terms of it's structure and pace: The snappily written dialogue, (from the novel by Walter Tevis) leans towards film noir, which, despite being softly spoken by the actors, echoes Mamet in terms of it's voracity and caustic one liners.
On one hand, this film sees Tom Cruise in familiar territory: as a grinning pool player determined to be the best, whilst Newman occupies that staple role of the 80's Cruise movie; The Mentor, yet in stark contrast to the high concept ideals of Top Gun", "Cocktail" and "Risky Business", "The Color Of Money" works as a subtle satire about capitalist ideology in the 80's and serves to remind the viewer about the duplicitous nature of the world.
There's no big showdown, little romance or feel good musical montage; this is old school moviemaking, with the use of mise en scene exploited to the full, in a shot where Newman walks back into an empty Vegas poolhall and sees row upon row of tables just waiting to be played.
The acting is above average, especially in the moments where Eddie teaches Vince some lessons he'll never forget, whilst Mastrantonio is quite elusive in her portrayal of Carmen (who only met Vince after she tried to rob his house!).
'The Color Of Money' has to be commended for it's realistic style; with Newman's laid back, naturalistic performance as 'Fast' Eddie, complementing Cruise's 'cool when he 's playing, a little neurotic when he's not' Vince, to Tom Cruise's credit, this is most complex role he'd have to play that year, and consequently, Tom changed his acting style for it to work. For though Vince projects an aura of cool (being able to do trick shots without having to look at the table is pretty damn cool), he's actually a hopelessly insecure, jealous and somewhat naïve character: all nervous energy and vent up aggression " a flake" as 'Fast' Eddie describes him; and that's the clever thing about 'The Color Of Money': nobody is ever what they seem. For even when the film ends, you can't help but think that there's still a lot more to say about these characters; it almost certainly seems as if there'd be another sequel (who knows? maybe there will).
Some of the movie's strongest moments occur when Eddie's trying to talk Vincent into becoming his protégée by coming to see him at his job in Child World; he makes Vince realise that he's holding himself back and even goes so far as to use Carmen in his ploy. The way in which Eddie tries to play every situation to his favour, goes to highlight the fact that at the end of the day, everyone's using everyone, and if you can see that; play along, who knows, perhaps you'll be all right as well...perhaps. And despite their flaws, we don't end up hating any of these people, because their intentions (even the selfish ones) aren't really that bad; it's a real 'I Do For You, You Do For Me (But I Want More)' kinda message.
Remember that song? "What's the colour of money, what's the color of money; don't tell me that you think it's green me a' no it's red..." well I reckon what director Martin Scorsese's trying to say here; is it doesn't matter what the color of money is, for greed is as opaque an entity as two people standing behind a pool table.
Rack'em up...
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Many top pool players of the 80's were part of the cast and/or provided assistance, such as Steve Mizerak ("The Miz") who was the player Eddie beat in Atlantic City; Jimmy Mataya ("Pretty Boy Floyd"), who was accompanying Julian (John Turturro) when he saw Eddie in Atlantic City; Keith McCready, who played Grady Seasons; and others such as Mike Sigel and Eva Mataya Laurence (who at the time was Jimmy Mataya's wife) acted as pro shot makers and advisors who set up the shots for the actors. 
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The Color of money is the Sequel to a film called "The Hustler" (1961) which was nominated for 8 academy awards and starred a young Paul Newman as Fast Eddie Felson and the late, great Jackie Gleason as the legendary pool shark Minnesota Fats. Other notable names in the film are Piper Laurie and George C. Scott. In "The Color of Money", Eddie makes reference to the The Hustler by saying that "someone retired him a long time ago from pool".
The owner of Chalkies pool hall in "The Color of Money" is the same character who, in "The Hustler", cleans up the tables after Minnesota Fats and Eddie play. The character is also played by the same actor. -Thanks to Glenn Magpili
Rock legend Iggy Pop makes a cameo appearance in one of the dingy pool halls, first winning, but then, in classic hustler fashion, being taken to the cleaners and having to hand all the money back. -Thanks to Linkster
The voice explaining 9-ball is director Martin Scorsese's.
Believe it or not, but "The Color Of Money" was Paul Newman's first Oscar win as Best Actor.
Walter Tevis also wrote cult sci-fi novel 'The Man Who Fell To Earth'
At one point in the film, Eddie comments that it has been "25 years" since he last played. In real life, it had been 25 years (1961 - 1986) since "The Hustler" (1961), where Newman had first played Fast Eddie.
Directors Cameo (Martin Scorsese): In the Atlantic City casino, the man walking a dog on a leash. The dog is Scorsese's dog Zoe. Zoe is credited in the closing credits as "Dog Walkby."
"The Color Of Money" was produced by Touchstone Pictures, a division of The Walt Disney Company. Even in a gritty movie like this, Disney synergy is still at work in one scene. In the beginning of the movie, look in the background. You'll see an arcade game tied into the movie "TRON", released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1982. -Thanks to John Edward Kilduff
Tom Cruise is clocking an arcade stock car racing game in the movie: Cruise is also a race enthusiast in real life.
John Carmack of id Software admits that the world-famous game DOOM (1993) got its name from Tom Cruise's answer on what he carries in his cue-case: "Doom." -Thanks to Matthijs De Bruin
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Tom Cruise did his own trick shots for the film, except for one, in which he had to jump two balls to sink another. Scorsese said he could have let Cruise learn the shot, but it would have taken two extra days of practice, holding up production and costing thousands of dollars. The shot was instead performed by professional player Mike Sigel.
The Balabushka that was given to Tom Cruise was in fact a modified Joss J-18 cue as the director was afraid of damaging a Balabushka when Cruise was twirling it around in one of the scenes. The major difference between the J-18 and the cue in the movie is there are no diamond inlays in the cue in the movie. You can see this in the scene where Eddie first gives Vincent the cue and the pan accross the cue it shows no diamond inlays. Joss re-released the cue as N-07 in the late 90's. -Thanks to Zach Murphy
Paul Newman says the best advice director Martin Scorsese gave him, especially in humorous scenes, was: "Try NOT to be funny."
At the beginning of the movie when Vince is first playing against Julian, you can see the cueball stop near the corner pocket nearest the camera after one of Vince's shots. When the camera pans behind a post you can see that the cueball has moved significantly in order to set up for his next shot which is a cross-side shot. -Thanks to 9ballninja
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|  |  |  | | The Color Of Money
Locations |
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 Featured Movie Location: Atlantic City Hotel (pool tournament)
Wanna see the real life filming location used for Atlantic City Hotel (pool tournament) in the movie? These scenes were actually shot at Blackstone Hotel, located in Chicago, Illinois. [New! Show Google Map]
The movie was shot in Chicago, Illinois, as well as Atlantic City, New Jersey for some Boardwalk and casino exteriors. [Thanks to Ann Leysen]
Chris's Billiards (4637 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago IL) - Northwest side of the city. This is the location of where Vince FIRST plays Grady Seasons. Grady wins easily at first because Vince is told to "dump". Then Vince gets pissed at Grady's arrogance and the two start exchanging wins on the table. [Thanks to Steven Wojcik]
There is a bar scene at the beginning of the movie. There is one circular track shot that was done there -a trademark of Martin S's pictures. It was filmed in a restaurant called THAT STEAK PLACE on Wells Street in Chicago's Old Town section. Just blocks away from it's famed Second City. I believe it's still there. [Thanks to George]
In the penultimate sequence of "The Color of Money," Vince (Cruise) and Carmen (Mastrantonio) confer a potential lucrative endeavor at the tremendously kitsch "Gaslight Club," located at the O'Hare Hilton Hotel in Chicago, IL. The bar is located at the lobby level of the hotel. The O'Hare Hilton Hotel is located in the center of the O'Hare Airport, and can be seen amidst the beautiful gleaming "eighties-esque" red-neon stripes, from miles away. [Thanks to Greg Gathman]
The Navy Pier Ballroom in Chicago was used for the Atlantic City Tournament. It was supposed to take place at the Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. [Thanks to C.J.]
The toy store that Tom's character works at is located at Randhurst Mall in Des Plaines and Mt. Prospect, a Northwest suburb of Chicago.[Thanks to Shel]
Can you help? Do you know any of the Chicago, Illinois filming locations used for The Color Of Money? [Please send them in]
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Great for playing pool and hustling people at bars... (although that's not the best thing to do) Use our search feature to locate a copy.
1. Who Owns This Place? - Don Henley
2. It's In The Way You Use It - Eric Clapton
3. Let Yourself In For It - Robert Palmer
4. Don't Tell Me Nothin' - Willie Dixon
5. Two Brothers And A Stranger - Mark Knopfler
6. Standing On The Edge Of Love - B.B. King
7. Modern Blues - ASCAP
8. Werewolves Of London - Warren Zevon
9. My Baby's In Love With Another Guy - Robert Palmer
10. The Main Title - ASCAP
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