Re: suicide…. Thinking isn’t doing. Like George bailey. I don’t think he would ever have done it.

Just discovered your discussion of “ordinary people” and now this. Both are in my favorites and I appreciate your insight very much. I will for sure subscribe. Hopefully you’re still at it.

This is the very best brief analysis of the film ever. You've said it all. It leaves me with so many new things to consider--all over a film we dissected in screenwriting class at UCLA more than forty years ago. Many thanks.

I love this movie. Fast Eddie Felson is slick but vulnerable. I really feel for him when he gets hustled by Forrest Whittaker. And I like the ending. Cruise is great in that Werewolf of London scene. This is Scorsese’s commercial movie but it’s a damn good one.

Also the early 60s had Psycho, Hud, Dr Strangelove and Cape Fear

In the high-end pool hall they covered the tables so they don't get dust and ruin the felt

Vincent is shown to be very good at hustling in the end. This makes me think that he was always hustling Eddie in some way. I mean, he's an idiot. But then he magically gets good at hustling with only three weeks on the road leading into Atlantic City? I think he played in Eddie's bar on purpose from the get go to draw Eddie in. This is also why Eddie loses to Forrest Whittaker's character on purpose. He wants to break away from Vincent and make it seem like he's over the hill. The only time we actually see the real Vincent and the real Eddie is at the very end when they're about to play each other to see who's actually better.

Just watched this again after 20 years. It’s a 5 star classic that holds up better than anything I’ve rewatched ❤

Classic movie!

greatest movie ever, not even close... Kubrick was attempting to tell his story through just visuals and sound with the dialogue being a minor part; both going back to silent films and pure cinema but also going foward and setting the bar too high for everyone else... 7:00 not my idea, but i agree with this view of 2001, its highly ANTI-space/technology... space is empty turning men into ants (their space suits), HAL being programmed by humans is a killer... its boring AND deadly... as a child i watched the beginning and got an Eerie Chill when the ape man threw the bone in the air, only time ive had that feeling; i suspect i didnt watch the whole movie as the middle part is a hard watch at age 10, as an adult i find the Russian guy giving the middle finger twice while doing basic things (moving glass) is now riveting--im not 100% its an insult but it could be... great podcast i wish you guys were still going, its a black mark on KZfaq that your views are so low...

24:27 - an old friend of mine made a great case for the idea that The Color of Money doesn't hold up against this, because he believed the Eddie could not have lived long after leaving the hall at the end.

It's a fucking mess!!!!!!!

Don't start me here. A fanatstic premise, but should have been casted to Penn - 0 not Depp.

Brilliant film

Btw, Helen Shaver referenced Character based on Eddie's withdrawal from the tourney after Vincent's admission of "a dive". She respected Eddie's will to EARN his place and wins which Vince destroys as payback for Eddie's false motives for the entire Journey. It wasn't for Vince, or Carmen. He knew they were his ticket back. Alcohol, ego, Rusty instincts and physical decline in the faster BANGERS game, added the only challenge Eddie was unprepared for. Even Vince not falling into student mode topped by Carmen sexually acting out as a finger to her controlling bf, like Eddie says..."CHILDCARE!". Well, in The Hustler... Eddie was the kid. He once felt the need, The need for...glasses.

So u know, the film is an INTENDED shifting of one audience towards the other at MACH 5. Newman's crowd was NOT Cruise-enthused. Unfortunately, the speed-natured 70s and mid 80s had two to three yrs left of fuel prior to the CRASH Nirvana would smell with grunge, angst, depression, pills, the predesigned East vs West rap rage topped by O.J. and Kato proving that ridiculous Green Hornet crime show concept had no business on a TV screen, just like a White Bronco, Trial of the Century, riots, and the following horde of REALITY TV

"Not the brightest bulb" does not equal dim or clueless. Carmen's description of her bf, "He's sweet, Vincent's real sweet" means that she knows that Vincent allowed her to keep what had belonged to his mother as a sign of his affection. But also smacks of the young man redirecting his attention from the nest by his offering one of many trinkets mom owns to his newfound love Juliet, who's bf steals for what they don't have, while putting her at risk, that maneuver by Vincent would at one time be considered a noble gesture. ESPECIALLY since the entire process is an obvious Scorcese callback to Cruise in Risky Business which placed him in a wealthy upbringing which Joel naively disregards under the menacing glare of his all-too controlling (and MATERIALISTIC) mother who's attention to a crystal egg seems heartfelt while her only son merely exists to clean and safeguard such a treasure...yeah, the dad and his car and sound system with Mommie Dearest made me completely understand Joel choosing to stretch his legs quite foolishly while HOME alone. 😂 Since acquiring my newly found midlife knowledge cache of all Hollywood films being purposefully interwoven, I can honestly point out at least one more Risky Business reflection which due to its nature, I refer to as Abstract Inversion (A.I.). The cowboy with the tie-pin in his nose, who was Chalky's "Main Stick" also appears in Risky Business when he arrives at Joel's door courtesy of matchmaker Miles (Booger) who couldn't have known the hidden catch. So, in Color of Money, when 'Mozelle' asks Vincent what he had in his satchel, Vincent responds with a smile and the word "Doom" as his expensive BEJEWELED weapon is revealed. Reflection: Eddie's gift stick to Vincent = Vincent's gift of pendant to Carmen. A brazen symbol of manhood flaunted at an opponent who once shared the screen as a prospective "good time" for Cruise. Ok, keep in-mind Vincent's dinner convo with Eddie pertaining to Video Game reflexes which by Vincent's rationale, would become valued factors in selecting aptly-skiled service members during future military ops. So ..Top Gun, Born on the Fourth of...and oh yeah. DAYS OF THUNDER were thus officially foretold of. Since this movie dropped in 1986, that means Gross Pointe Blank is tied to it as well. How? Ask and I will share...😎

I would wholeheartedly disagree with beavis and butthead here. The Hustler is a renowned classic. A cool as they come supercool melodrama with a million quotable lines, Newman is cool as fuck - not his best acting though as still emulating Brando, but look at George C Scott and Jackie Gleason....outstanding performances. The recently deceased Piper Laurie projects true character acting...heartbreaking and glamourous. The Color of Money is very little to do with Cruise, it's really all about Fast Eddie. I have watched this a million times and still love every bit of it. An old pal of mine said though 'Why did they have to ruin a great movie with a love story?' Funny comment, but my god, this movie is top level class.

I got too bored to watch these two guys talk about a movie that was pretty lame anyway. The plot was " Karate Kid with a stick ". The characters had no brains. When Vincent falls for an obvious hustle by a black player, the lack of any smarts is drilled into us. The character's smarty-pants attitude wouldn't go over in the pool world. "Let your cue do the talking". Mastrontonio plays a repulsive woman I wouldn't screw with your dick. The best line of the movie is when she tells a wooden old Paul Newman ( "Slow Eddie ? ) , " Well, if you can't cut the mustard, you can still lick the jar".

This should have won a director's oscar

Criminally underrated film

Interesting.... I've always felt that when Newman's character got hustled by Whitaker's it was a breaking point for Felson. I don't think he figured out that he was being hustled until that last game they played. He had the bankroll to go on. He didn't have the spirit. Eddie prided himself on being that guy. The Hustler. The hustle started from that first natural conversation, and he missed it. He got comfortable for just a moment, and he got beat. Worse, he got hustled. Losing wasn't so bad. Getting hustled broke him. He no longer deserved to be the teacher if he could get fooled and schooled that easily. it is interesting to hear that there is a different take on that. I witnessed this pool underworld for a few years in my late teens/early 20's in late 80's/early 90's. They captured the reality of the pool rooms and some of the personalities you meet there in a way no other film about pool has. Most won't recognize the depth or the subtleties of much of what they are seeing here, which is why it is such an excellent piece of work by Scorsese, Newman and Cruise. There were quality players who were exactly as flaky and obnoxious as Vince. There were older players turned stake horses more arrogant and flawed than Felson (and prone to drinking too much and messing it all up). Some may see The Color of Money as not a perfect movie, but for those who have been there, this movie is unquestionably great.

This is an excellent video, man! You hit all the points that this movie hits as hard as it does, and is so effective.

video is gold

Did not like the casting of Ben Gazzara (okay I get it he is a friend of JC). I like this movie. I was drawn to the gangsters. I never knew who Timothy Carey was but he stole every scene in which he appeared. 6 out of 10. Replace Gazzara ? Probably a 10.

Hey guys . . . let's remember that this movie was based on the book written by Walter Tevis, professor of literature at Ohio University. It's been published in dozens of languages.

Great discussion on this film. Good points made by both of you.

I had a pool hall legend Greek guy that really played fast Eddy and had black and white pictures and his own billard halll with real professional tables all covered for high rollers

Love you guys❤

Thank you❤

Actually, Michael Bay can convey the horrors of war quite well. Ever see 13 Hours: the Secret Soldiers of Benghazi? That's arguably one of his best films.

SPOILER ALERT: Great analysis of a great movie. I've seen this movie dozens of times. There is so much rich subtext going on in this movie that is always waiting to be discovered. One thing I've noticed only recently is all the statuettes and pictures in it of Sarah, showing her inner turmoil at the time of that particular scene. The last one being when the camera freezes for a couple of seconds after she writes on the mirror. The last portrait of her is her own flesh & blood right before she kills herself.

Paralysis from analysis. Its not that complicated of a film.

Lovely opening.

I thought this movie was terrible and I just need a place to complain about it. The book had an explanation for fats returning. It made sense and it gave a lot of background to an old veteran returning to his game - pool - in a new way - 9-ball. There was a degree of mentorship and competition between the two in which Eddie lost over, and over, and over again, and each time he redoubled his efforts and lost again. It was a really good story arc that segued into Eddie trying to find a passion again. I understand that they couldn't do all of Eddie's side adventures by way of side jobs and entrepreneurship and explore his new romance and everything involved with that. But the movie just showed him as a manipulative old man who whines like a child every time he fails. Occasionally he makes weird, SA kinds of comments. The whole character of Vince was just supremely annoying compared to the really mellow, waning light era of life that the book was showing. I keep looking for some good discussion about why the movie is entirely unrecognizable from the book, but it doesn't seem to exist. Very frustrating given how disappointing this movie was after just finishing the book. Why it's considered a class, I don't know. There was the occasional cool shot of a pool table or action shot of someone shooting pool - otherwise, just shallow narrative and shallower characters.

Excellent commentary

Big fan of your vids and Criterion commentaries. Any updates on continuing this video series? Again great work

This is not the best Scorcese film in my opinion, that honour goes to Goodfellas. However, this by far my favourite Scorcese film. The performances were exactly where they needed to be. I think that Fast Eddie being the only connection to The Hustler plays in this film's favour. Anybody could watch this film without having already seen The Hustler and not lose anything from it.

I just watched this tonight since I watched The Hustler last night. Well, now I know why I hated The Color Of Money when I first saw it at the theater upon its release. It’s a total downer of a movie, and I would consider it one of the lower points of the 80s which had lots of shitty movies.

Excellent analysis! I was with you guys through every minute of this video. I saw this earlier in life and didn’t like it but I watched it again last night and now I think it’s a perfect movie. One jarring aspect of it, however, is how much the tone changes from act to act. In act 3, the tone changes so much it’s almost like watching a different movie. Newman definitely came into his own in this role and this began his meteoric rise to stardom in the 60s. However, I think his greatest performance by far is The Verdict, 1982. Great job! BTW, anyone who has a poster of 2001: A Space Odyssey behind him can’t be all bad! 👍👍👍

Another cinema KZfaqr pointed out (and did not I think take credit for observing this himself) that a key scene in Michael's character development is just OUTSIDE the hospital, after the would-be hit squad drives off -- the florist tries to light a smoke and his hands are shaking and Michael lights it for him because his hands are NOT shaking -- but the camera lingers on him NOTICING that his own hands are not shaking, and considering the fact for a moment, leading the viewer to conclude that he's recognizing something about his own nature.

Interesting to hear you guys so you don't think this movie is considered a classic now. My guess is I'm about 15 years older than you guys and it was always considered a classic as far as I could tell.

213 views is not fair reward for such a well-produced video.

I like it it’s fun, it’s cool that he went for a less obtuse story arch , it’s more traditional Hollywood.

In true LaBute fashion, it's an extremely promising film that completely drops off in the third act. However, it's probably Freeman's best performance after Shawshank.

Also watched the HBO documentary Making Master and Commander. No models! All real ships.

I'm not sure the carry-over from the Hustler was fully understood here. It's something of a lesson for all of us when we were young. You can (and probably should!) be a different person when you're 25 years past your early 20s. There are some sparks and triggers that can transport you back, but you are past living off the events of that life. And how Eddie treats his girlfriend is due in part to what happened to his love interest in The Hustler. The movie didn't show literal flashbacks, which a modern sequel surely would, but it's all over Eddie's face throughout. As sure as the old pool hall which became a furniture warehouse, so Eddie has changed. His compulsive nature is trying to break through, but there's no place for that in 1986. Eddie is developing the girlfriend, not Vince who is too childish. It's a film open to plenty of interpretation, but it's a great piece of cinema.

The table is.covered until Fats arrives because it's his table. I don't think its a mistake at all. Its like when they show them opening the doors for him before he gets there since he walks in at the same minute every day.

He had n even more famous role then the Mayor of Amity in Jaws - he was Mr. Robinson in The Graduate.

The poolhall is NOT in NYC, it's in Ames, Iowa.