THE COLOR OF MONEY (1986)

“Money won is twice as sweet as money own.”

It’s always show time when a veteran plays a part what he’s best at. Martin Scorsese brought back Paul Newman once again in his great role as ‘Fast Eddie Felson’, pool table hustler and this time he’s an old shark betting on a young, happening talent Tom Cruise. As wise Eddie adviced young kid that it’s both brain and balls that does matter to win the game in long run but the boy has too much of one and not enough of the other. The boy gives him enough spark to re-enter the field after a long gap and in return a kid got a great platform playing with highly professionals.

Unlike other Scorsese films the plot is plain simple, devoid of any complexities, even narration is flat and characters are one dimensional. There’re some finest pool moves and shots and the refreshing chemistry between Cruise & Newman. Though it’s not Scorsese’s best film, it demands attention simply due to legendary Paul Newman. I regard Newman as an icon; equal in the lineage of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood where ‘attitude ain’t retired with age’. Newman got his due with winning Best Actor Oscar for this film, probably he deserved for his early classics like ‘The Hustler’ or ‘Cool Hand Luke’.

Ratings-7/10