The Color of Money

"The Color of Money" has disaster written all over it. It's an unnecessary sequel to the much-loved classic "The Hustler," which starred Paul Newman as an ace pool player. This time around, Newman is a mentor to the frequently irritating Tom Cruise. (Here he sports a ridiculous haircut and twirls his cue around like a samurai staff. It's not hard to imagine why he took the role.) Behind the camera is Martin Scorcese, who typically works on passion projects, not studio-hire stuff like this.

And yet "The Color of Money" sings, thanks to the pairing of Newman and Scorcese. Newman is literally the perfect actor for this role, possessing all the poise and self-assurance needed to sell himself to both Cruise and the audience. Scorcese brings his signature verve and energy to the pool hall, turning potentially dull or hackneyed scenes into visual thrills. (Although it must be said that Scorcese's longtime musical consultant/composer, Robbie Robertson of The Band, contributes a dreadful score.)

Beyond the technical stuff, "The Color of Money" works thanks to its unorthodox plot. This isn't your typical sports movie, where a young up-and-comer takes on a longtime champion/asshole. Instead, "The Color of Money" is about the conflict between passion and pragmatism. A born competitor, Cruise is only interested in destroying the competition. But as Newman teaches him, constant winners can't make much money in pool; pretty soon, no one wants to play them. To make money, a hustler has to deliberately lose for a while. Then, once his competitor gets too cocky, he brings his A game to win back his money and then some.

That's a profitable hustle, but it's contrary to the spirit of the game. And that's what "The Color of Money" is about--not who wins, but what the mentality of the players is. It's a sports movie where the outcomes don't matter. Pretty refreshing.