The Color of Money

Seeing Tom Cruise in something else than an action movie is really weird and interesting at the same time. You certainly won’t associate him with Martin Scorsese, but in this movie the very young Tom Cruise is indeed one of the stars of a Scorsese movie. Unfortunately this movie is overshadowed by another movie with Tom Cruise in 1986, because in this same year the first Top Gun movie came out as well. However, the role that’s portrayed is, how different the stories are, a little the same in terms of character. Tom Cruise plays Vincent; a cocky, talented pool player and heckler, which is not so different from his role in Top Gun, minus the fighter jets of course.

Top Gun also didn’t star Paul Newman (Eddie). Him being a retired pool player and current businessman in the liquor industry, being in his own bar is his everyday work. Drinking and chatting with the barmaid, who happens to be his girlfriend. When he notices Vincent all sorts of ideas go through his head, making Vincent accomplish more than he ever could as a pool player. So Eddie proposes to give Vincent some guidance, and go on the road with him and Vincent’s girlfriend Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) to help him master the art of hustling money and let Vincent live up to his full potential.

Top Gun also didn’t star Paul Newman (Eddie).

‘The color of Money’ landed Paul Newman an Oscar for ‘best leading actor’ which is super deserved. His performance as Eddie is magnificent, capturing the emotions, dilemma’s and feelings perfectly. Seeing different aspects of a character, following him over different roads and interacting with a wide-open world.

What makes this movie so good is that Scorsese never fails to capture the world building, even in non sci-fi movies. The actors help a lot of course, but Scorsese makes a world feel alive. Eddie being a retired pool player and travelling, meeting side-characters and seeing them interact with him adds simple layers to a story and a world that a lot of directors fail to caption, even if it’s a movie about playing pool.

Especially the interactions between a young and stubborn Vincent and a veteran as Eddie makes it also very relatable. In addition, Carmen is the bridge between the two and makes Vincent character more interesting. Her character helps to understand Vincent more and that makes the conversations that she has with Eddie about him feel real and makes her love for Vincent known through her praise about his character.

‘The Color of Money’ is a good portrayal of mentorship, relations and hustling, which makes this an easy an interesting watch. The performances are great (especially Paul Newman) and the world-building is excellent, while still being a funny, fast-paced story.

7/10