The Color of Money

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The Color of Money

R

Released Oct 17, 1986

1h 59m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

87%

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47 Reviews

73%

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25,000+ Ratings

Former pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson (Paul Newman) decides he wants to return to the game by taking a pupil. He meets talented but green Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise) and proposes a partnership. As they tour pool halls, Eddie teaches Vincent the tricks of scamming, but he eventually grows frustrated with Vincent's showboat antics, leading to an argument and a falling-out. Eddie takes up playing again and soon crosses paths with Vincent as an opponent.

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Critics Consensus

That it's inferior to the original goes without saying, but Paul Newman and Tom Cruise are a joy to watch, and Martin Scorsese's direction is typically superb.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Yes, sure, this is mid-level Scorsese. But it says something about the director that his mid-level work still beats the hell out of just about anyone else's best.

Apr 8, 2017

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

The premise might sound interesting, but the plotting is so utterly predictable that The Color of Money turns into a pool-room variation of The Karate Kid.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 6, 2017

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

It is a surprise, and a disappointment.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 6, 2017

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Has Martin Scorsese’s camera ever had as much fun as it does here?

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 24, 2023

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

There are still a few surprises that have the potency to remain memorable, but, ultimately, when devious, dishonest people use one another for two hours, the end result is rarely satisfying.

Rated: 3/10

Aug 29, 2022

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Alberto Abuín

Espinof

Everything, including a splendid cast, works like a clockwork mechanism in which Scorsese faces youth with experience. [Full Review in Spanish]

Aug 27, 2019

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Filmviewer 3

It's honestly my favorite movie of all time. It just doesn't get any better than this. The eighties, Scorsese {before he became too predictable,) a young hot shot TC and silver fox Paul Newman reprising his role as Fast Eddie Felson. The soundtrack, the tone, direction, etc., and how about the character actors in this! Bill Cobb, John Turturro, Forrest Whitaker! I will watch this anytime it's on. What a gem.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/25

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Jeff H

Very good movie! Newman and Cruise! No sledgehammer breaks.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/25

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thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, o elenco é mais ou menos, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, a história é fraca, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

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Leaburn O

Whilst it isn’t in the same league as The Hustler, it’s still a very decent film in its own right. Cruise displays his usual character tics in this early role. Newman is pretty slick. Watched on DVD.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/13/24

Full Review

Rosana B

Queria eu não ter criado um ranço com Tom Cruise (cientologia e abandono paternal) não tão cedo, não antes de assistir à maioria de seus filmes, "Ele é um bobalhão" dita por um personagem, sobre ele, nunca foi tão real... O filme é demasiadamente enfadonho, independente de sua atuação, e me lembrou o The Hustler, de1961, pela sinuca, qual não foi minha surpresa tratar-se de uma sequência, tão esquecível quanto o original…

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/04/24

Full Review

Akash A

I was really waiting for it to 'begin'. It was well shot, the acting was solid, but the plot was weak. Little in the realm of fresh plot points - and maybe that's a testament to how much film I've seen (or how much film has advanced since then). It is 16:9 so you can enjoy it covering your whole TV though.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/07/24

Full Review

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Martin Scorsese

Director

Paul Newman

Fast Eddie Felson

Tom Cruise

Vincent

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Carmen

Helen Shaver

Janelle

John Turturro

Julian

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Synopsis

Former pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson (Paul Newman) decides he wants to return to the game by taking a pupil. He meets talented but green Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise) and proposes a partnership. As they tour pool halls, Eddie teaches Vincent the tricks of scamming, but he eventually grows frustrated with Vincent's showboat antics, leading to an argument and a falling-out. Eddie takes up playing again and soon crosses paths with Vincent as an opponent.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Producer: Irving Axelrod, Barbara De Fina
Screenwriter: Walter Tevis, Richard Price
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $52.3M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Surround

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