The Color of Money (1986)

User Review

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  Barneyonmovies

  6 / 10

  WHAT I LIKED: You can certainly see why Scorsese was interested in directing Paul Newman and Richard Price's 'The Hustler,' sequel 'The Colour of Money,' as he's always been fascinated by characters living destructive lifestyles. Newman's Eddie was certainly one such guy in the first film, and now his cocky, obsessive and troubled young apprentice all these years later Vincent (Tom Cruise) mirrors the same. The story sees Eddie - who has now learned that real winning means, as he puts it, "becoming someone," and realising the costs - attempt to work with Vincent's difficult hustler and girlfriend (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) to manipulate him into becoming a real success. With a set of great performances and Scorsese's assured hand behind it all giving everything room to manifest with his steady camera, the result is certainly engaging to some extent, especially with the fascinating and rocky archetypal mentor-student relationship between Newman and Cruise at the centre.
  
  WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The trouble is, there's not much new to be said with the characters, as Newman's has already had his journey (so there's no new figuring his way through his conscience), and in Cruise we're seeing a similar arc to Eddie's play out all over again. That makes it feel rather like it's just going through the motions at times, which is a shame given the potential that's ultimately here.
  
  VERDICT: It's hardly Scorsese's best or most interesting film, and it's hardly the most inspired sequel to 'The Hustler,' either, but the fascinating dynamic between Newman and Cruise keeps your eyes on the screen throughout 'The Color of Money,' especially when Scorsese gives them all the room that he does.

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