Love & miss Siskel & Ebert, but this movie is powerful for me. The whole concept of brash, youth not listening to old, wisemen is classic & true. Great music, great shots, great hustle! This movie is a Paul Newman gem!
You can't see them play pool because the pool scene is the equivalent of a fight scene with shaky cam. The pool game in Malcom in the Middle was better.
It was a bit gimmicky though, borne out of the MTV video days. I liked the film, overall. I thought the acting really saved it. Ebert made some good points, though.
Yeah, that's the best thing about the film. The pool scenes are beautifully shot. It may not be realistic, but the same is true of the boxing scenes in Raging Bull. There isn't a single blocked punch. It's no different to Rocky.
Yah, it gives me chills too especially with Paul gone. This is one of those movies where you can tell that outstanding actors are really enjoying acting in the film and working with Scorsece.
I agree with siskel and ebert...the characters and actors are strong in this .. but the movie is too predictable and not enough of anything really happens other then Excatly what u already know. The ending was cool with newman but at this point ur waiting for a big showdown or something big to happen and it don't deliver ....the music and good actors saved this movie ..the script sucked and was to basic it could of been so much more ......had Tom cruise and newman not played in this and without the good soundtrack this would have lil to no redeeming qualities and would of bombed....the energy and talent was there the script wasnt....I honestly thought top gun was similar without the soundtrack and cruise and the women development it would of sucked also for the most part ...why tom cruise deserves alot of credit ..he didn't get offered amazing scripts early in his carrier he jus worked really hard and outshined and made those movies come to life the best he could and they had great music and had great chemistry with his other actors...unlike today with most new films almost anybody could play the role and it wouldn't make a difference.
Very happy to see the overwhelming support for this movie in the comments. Siskel & Ebert are great, cherished talents, but I agree with most of the commentary here that they missed the mark on this one. The Color Of Money is an incredible movie, mainly thanks to Newman and Cruise and Scorsese and the screenwriters who turned an extremely fun novel into an endlessly entertaining film. This movie gets better every time I watch it. The Hustler set a high bar, but this film meets it, and then some.
I love this film! ❤️ I always liked Siskel and Ebert and they were usually very accurate in their reviews but they were WAYYYYYY off on this film. Newman is just fantastic in this!
I loved these two guys growing up but I'm perplexed to what exactly their issue with the film was. I think Scorsese's direction and Newman's and Cruise's performances have aged much better than this review has.
Its okay to love the reviewers and still know that they are often WRONG! They're critics, which means that they neither make movies like the pros nor view them like the masses. If you post an elaboration of your point about the aging of the film versus the aging of the review, shoot me a heads up. I'll watch it. You're spot on!
Imo the movie does fine with two legendary actors fucking with each other the whole movie . That's what I see it as, kind of like a buddy road moive but also you don't trust your buddy😂
This review is hilarious! The Color of Money is a great film. It’s in my top for Scorsese movies. Mr. Newman and Cruise are dynamite on screen. Dispel and Ebert whiffed on this one!
The character of Eddie evolves so much in TCOM from where he was in The Hustler and that's played perfectly by Newman. I don't know what Siskel & Ebert were smoking here but this is a phenomenal film. I happen to love the script, the performances and the editing especially. And I even like the final freeze-frame into that brilliant title theme by Robbie Robertson! Great movie. Scorsese was on FIRE in the 1980s and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Competition pool is genuinely chaotic and psychologically exhausting. It's a perfect sequence for where it is placed. Does it adapt well to the screen for a critical audience? Who cares?! It's truthful.
This, quite possibly was the greatest performance by an actor in any movie. Paul Newman was so believable as the “born loser” character. How wrong they were on their takes on this masterpiece.
The problem was "The Hustler" is one of the greatest films ever made, makes this movie look like a money grab. Not one of Scorsese's best, not even close.
@@JohnGeorgeHill The Hustler was great, but that role in The Color of Money was spot on real grit. I disagree with your take, but respect your thought.
Scorsese only agreed to do this movie on the condition that the studio would finance The Last Temptation of Christ. A Cruise formula flick with the bonus opportunity for the Academy to belatedly honor Newman
You just made the smartest statement here. I actually had the fortune to work for Scorsese on Last Temptation for a YEAR and not ONCE did he ever mention The Color of Money to us - except to mention how smooth and polished the camera moves Balhaus did were. And notice how there's no DECENT Blu-ray of it in existence, nothing with any commentary or extras. It's because Marty's is embarrassed with this picture.
Bad review?! They just expected more...because its a Scorsese movie. If 'Color of Money' was directed by some other stiff, they would have probably praised the film.
I feel bad criticizing Roger Ebert after all his health troubles, but this critique of his here is total bs, this was one awesome movie and Newman played it to a "T" and so did Cruise!
I saw this film back in 1986 when it first came out. Did not enjoy it much at the time and would've agreed with Siskel and Ebert. However, after rewatching the film over the years, I was able to understand the movie more. This film was not about pool or 9 ball. The film was about hustling. And more so, the film was about human nature. Every characters in the film had to go through growth and change. Also, every characters had a different perspective of reality. The story it was trying to tell is so complex that the main plot has to remain simple or otherwise the story would get lost. This is one of the few films I have ever seen where each person sees their own reality just like real life. Still, the bulk of the story is told from Eddie Felson's perspective but you can see the divergence of view between the characters.
I am actually shocked by Siskel and Eberts review. Most sequels are terrible, and IMO are usually rushed cash grabs. I always thought The Color of Money was an excellent one. I also loved the ending. Who wins the final match between Cruise and Newman doesnt matter. The movie isnt about Eddie vs. Vincent, its about Eddie vs Eddie, and the rekindling of the love of his life. Pool, and all the extras that go with it. Not every ending needs to be shown in cinema with a nice and neat bow on top. One of my favorite endings of all time in a movie is "The Silence of the Lambs." The director didnt need to show Anthony Hopkins eating his nemesis. We know what is going to happen, and its ok to leave it to imagination. The same is true here. Eddie or Vincent winning a fat envelope, or bragging rights doesnt matter. The ending is Eddie doing what he truly loves again, but as an older and wiser man than the arrogant and ignorant fool that Eddie Felson was in "The Hustler".
They were totally dead wrong on this! Great dramatic performances, lots of laughs and a killer soundtrack. Welcome back Paul Newman “the Hustler”. Such an unforgettable performance. I love this movie so much to this very day 🎱
lol I was watching Ebert's face transform as he got more upset that I had to go to the comments to see if other people noticed or it was just my computer. I started laughing as soon as I looked.
For a film that had so many damn good performances, not just Paul Newman's oscar winning turn but Tom Cruise consolidating his rising-star status in the role of a highly talented but immature novice and solid supporting work by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver, and Forest Whitaker, it seems Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel really missed it here. This is a movie of gritty vignettes in the world of pool hustling, some brutal, some sad, some hilarious, but all of them having the look and feel of authenticity.
I do not agree with anything they say. For such great critics they do not seem to understand the subject matter and are focused on 'character' which by the way they are wrong about as they 3 main leads all developed during the course of the movie with Newman and Cruise switching roles (motivation) at the end and Mastrantnio no longer dominating their relationship. The writing was really good if you are into pool, the acting spot on and the chemistry flawless. I really don't understand critics sometimes.
They're obsessed with predictability in many of these negative reviews. Ebert gave A Few Good Men a thumbs down over it. Isn't it more about the journey than the destination?
As someone who actually likes "A Few Good Men," I understand the reason for Ebert's disappointment. It's true that the journey to the end is just as, if not more so, important than the final destination, but that still means the film has to "stick the landing." As for predictability overall, when you have to see several hundred films a year like a film critic is required to do, you naturally start yearning for something that you haven't seen before. When Ebert is addressing the fact that the film basically tells the audience what is going to happen, then does exactly that, it's not exactly surprising. He happened to give that movie 2.5/4 stars, which is JUST BARELY below his thumbs up threshold. He doesn't think the movie is bad or anything like that, but that it had some misfires. By the way, I'm sorry that this turned into a wall of text :P
@@ClassicalCentral I understand his point, but for my money, the passion of Cruise strategizing & impersonating Nicholson was so entertaining in itself that it didn't matter. Obviously, nobody's going to be surprised by a happy ending from Hollywood, but the audience still needs to suspend disbelief, because his plan was such a hail mary, long-shot of a gamble. And in my opinion, they did stick the landing by virtue of the amazing performances & dialogue. I do agree that it would've been more of a surprise to call Nicholson to the stand in the spur of the moment while co-counsel sits there clueless as to what he's doing. That's a very common troupe of legal shows, but It also would've been more far-fetched...Either way, I think it's a minor flaw.
That's why he says the characters are "locked into the story". The journey itself isn't interesting or developed enough so the only thing that we're left with is the destination, which was a bummer.
What lying hypocrites! You can't have it BOTH ways. Either the ending didn't do what you thought it should as in climactic payoff or it was predictable. You can't say both... The point of the movies ending was that Eddie was back and life doesn't end in neat prepackaged ways...
They completely missed the point of this film. It's not about recreating the reality of a pool game. It's the undethread of the characters, the subtle humor which can only be understood if you hung around pool rooms and played the game. It's also the beautiful cinematography and soundtrack behind it. This is not a film you really get and love from first viewing. It's a study, you have to watch it a few times to get the subtleties of the humor and the dialogue. I didn't get it at first either. But after a bunch of viewings I absolutely loved it, and it's still probably my desert island pick. Also this film started a huge 9balll boom of late 80s and 90s. I highly recommend it. And watch it alone without distractions from your girlfriend
I've agreed with a number of Ebert's views of movies over the years, but I have to disagree with him on this one. This was a great movie, with an outstanding performance from the late Paul Newman.
Notice that the reviewers begin by reducing the movie to a boring-sounding, 2-dimensional plot. Then they criticize the plot for being boring and 2 dimensional. Reviews can miss the forest for the trees when they try to summarize something that can't be summarized in words. The movie is magic because it is so real. It's hard to summarize reality in words.
@@sha11235 Newman's Best Actor for this was essentially a lifetime achievement award. It was a fine performance but it wasn't the best of the year on merit.
Not their finest hour.... I wonder wha film they watched? Comparisons with the Karate Kid? Poor script? Are they shitting me? This was a great script brilliantly delivered b the cast, anything but predictable. Having Vincent welch on purpose and then teasing the final showdown but not showing it were brilliant ways to play against expectations. The film is about redemption and watching Newman climb out the soulless hustle world to recapture love of pool and it is a pleasure to watch no matter how. May times I’ve seen it. And ps......Werewolves of London scene is an all time great movie moment
@@markmckenna9427 "The impossible dream.." I was a year old when this film came out. I quote it near daily, people rarely know what I'm referring to. I love it so much I don't care.
Linear, yes, but the ending never bothered me. I think the point was that Newman's character would win some and lose some so what did it really matter how any one match might end, he was "back," as he said.
I was about to lose my mind until I read the overwhelming positive comments here. I thought, "am I alone that I really love this movie?" I think we can mostly agree that Siskel and Ebert got it wrong on their review. The Color of Money is an incredible movie.
These guys are high. This movie was anything but predictable. When I was sick growing up I would always stay at Grandmas house. There was a video store across the street. I rented this movie every time I could when I was out of school sick.
The Color of Money isn't really about a master taking a student under his wing and them facing off in the end. Eddie was a washed-up hustler turned liquor salesman who used Vince and Carmen. Eddie used his hustling/salesmanship skills to exploit their naiveté to make a lot of money off of them on the pool hustling circuit. But, while revisiting the echoes of his past life, he rediscovers his love of pool. After he gets humiliated and his hubris exposed by another hustler, it tears him up. He can't be half-way in this life and half-out of it. He basically abandons Vince to go back to basics and become a master again. The movie is about Eddie's redemption and path back to mastery. The pool tournament, which has some of the best cinematography I've seen in a movie, isn't the big finale showdown Roger Ebert was expecting, so he was dissapointed. The real resolution in the movie was Eddie reaching that pinnacle where he can confidently say "I'm back!". This movie is one of my top-3 favorites. Sorry, but Ebert's just jaded. He wasn't paying fuckin' attention or something. The movie's not about the kid, Siskel!
Agree. They seemed to miss the point of the movie entirely. As someone who just turned 50 I appreciate this movie even more. Everyone gets to a point in life when you know your best years are behind you. Seeing Eddie go through it from beginning to end and being on that journey with him is what the movie is all about
The only reason the Academy gave Newman Best Actor for this film is because they realized they fucked up by NOT giving it to him for 'The Hustler' (1961.) The Best Actor for 1961? Maximilian Schell for 'Judgement at Nuremberg,' mainly because he spoke both German and English in it; he had NONE of the cockiness and tragedy Newman brought to Fast Eddie Felson.
The movie alone is way more famous than Siskel and ebert turned out to be. These guys alone were short term entertainment. Tom cruise has become famous beyond their wildest dreams in the 80’s
The movie isn’t that predictable, and I thought it was a great piece of filmmaking imo. Scorsese has made a great sequel (and I’m not too crazy about sequels) where it stands alone from the original in many interesting ways. It’s not one of his bests, but it is a really great movie.
The Color of Money is good, but the disappointment comes more from the fact that this is prime Scorsese directing Paul Newman who is playing what may be his most famous character from one of the greatest films of the 1960s. Expectations are everything.
Siskel would have his wallet stolen if he wandered into any pool hall and Ebert couldn't fit through the front doors of a pool hall, that's why they hated this awesome movie.
I loved this movie. Still watch it today.
YES, me too, DickJohnson3434!
Dirk Johnson
Love & miss Siskel & Ebert, but this movie is powerful for me. The whole concept of brash, youth not listening to old, wisemen is classic & true. Great music, great shots, great hustle! This movie is a Paul Newman gem!
Ebert was so mad at this movie his face melted
+FriedEagleMind shapeshifter!
This isn't Siskel and Odbert by any chance is it?
I like it when he started looking like a zebra at the end of his interview 2:20
Joke didn’t age well
🤣
The scene that Ebert criticizes - the pool balls bouncing around - is one of my all-time favorite directing and editing sequences.
You can't see them play pool because the pool scene is the equivalent of a fight scene with shaky cam. The pool game in Malcom in the Middle was better.
It was a bit gimmicky though, borne out of the MTV video days. I liked the film, overall. I thought the acting really saved it. Ebert made some good points, though.
Yeah, that's the best thing about the film. The pool scenes are beautifully shot.
It may not be realistic, but the same is true of the boxing scenes in Raging Bull. There isn't a single blocked punch. It's no different to Rocky.
I agree with Roger-it’s just a bunch of balls rolling around in super-quick succession. It’s just annoying!
@@geoycsIt's a montage.
Wtf. One of the coolest Endings ever !
Gives me chills everytime, and at this Point its unnecessery who wins the Game....
Paul Newman was the Man !
Yah, it gives me chills too especially with Paul gone. This is one of those movies where you can tell that outstanding actors are really enjoying acting in the film and working with Scorsece.
I agree with siskel and ebert...the characters and actors are strong in this .. but the movie is too predictable and not enough of anything really happens other then Excatly what u already know. The ending was cool with newman but at this point ur waiting for a big showdown or something big to happen and it don't deliver ....the music and good actors saved this movie ..the script sucked and was to basic it could of been so much more ......had Tom cruise and newman not played in this and without the good soundtrack this would have lil to no redeeming qualities and would of bombed....the energy and talent was there the script wasnt....I honestly thought top gun was similar without the soundtrack and cruise and the women development it would of sucked also for the most part ...why tom cruise deserves alot of credit ..he didn't get offered amazing scripts early in his carrier he jus worked really hard and outshined and made those movies come to life the best he could and they had great music and had great chemistry with his other actors...unlike today with most new films almost anybody could play the role and it wouldn't make a difference.
Im Back!!
ebert almost turned into a werewolf in tis review
yeah wtf was that lol??!
Werewolf of London
Aauuuuuu Werewolf of London....
But his Hair was perfect.
Or a demonic entity.... that almost scared the shit outta me!
Very happy to see the overwhelming support for this movie in the comments. Siskel & Ebert are great, cherished talents, but I agree with most of the commentary here that they missed the mark on this one. The Color Of Money is an incredible movie, mainly thanks to Newman and Cruise and Scorsese and the screenwriters who turned an extremely fun novel into an endlessly entertaining film. This movie gets better every time I watch it. The Hustler set a high bar, but this film meets it, and then some.
I love this film! ❤️ I always liked Siskel and Ebert and they were usually very accurate in their reviews but they were WAYYYYYY off on this film. Newman is just fantastic in this!
I loved these two guys growing up but I'm perplexed to what exactly their issue with the film was. I think Scorsese's direction and Newman's and Cruise's performances have aged much better than this review has.
Its okay to love the reviewers and still know that they are often WRONG! They're critics, which means that they neither make movies like the pros nor view them like the masses.
If you post an elaboration of your point about the aging of the film versus the aging of the review, shoot me a heads up. I'll watch it. You're spot on!
The movie was pretty awful. Especially when compared to The Hustler
Imo the movie does fine with two legendary actors fucking with each other the whole movie . That's what I see it as, kind of like a buddy road moive but also you don't trust your buddy😂
Its a decent film, but Scorsese has done much better.
@@matmurk8536 I hated this movie.
BEST ENDING EVER! I'M BACK! AUDIENCE CHEERED...
Grew up watching this movie review show. Miss the 80’s. I’m 52 years old now and life sucks, Lol
Bad script? Predictable? Wow, they didn't know how good they had it back then.
Mr. Newman's performance was one of the best acting job's EVER. One of my all time favorite movies.
love paul newman's smoothness in this movie. even when his character changed he still stayed smooth as ever
This review turned into a screening of “They Live”
This review is hilarious! The Color of Money is a great film. It’s in my top for Scorsese movies. Mr. Newman and Cruise are dynamite on screen. Dispel and Ebert whiffed on this one!
this was a fantastic movie.. good soundtrack as well
AMAZING SOUNDTRACK
i disagree.
i say :
Good movie. Fantastic soundtrack.
@@countdublevay7327 I disagree I say fantastic movie, good soundtrack
@@awesome6486
But....
you already established that.
Remember?
Originally.?
The character of Eddie evolves so much in TCOM from where he was in The Hustler and that's played perfectly by Newman. I don't know what Siskel & Ebert were smoking here but this is a phenomenal film. I happen to love the script, the performances and the editing especially. And I even like the final freeze-frame into that brilliant title theme by Robbie Robertson! Great movie. Scorsese was on FIRE in the 1980s and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
I pity those who can't enjoy this movie.
I kinda like the shots of all those pool balls knocking into each other. It makes the game look more poetic and also more chaotic.
Competition pool is genuinely chaotic and psychologically exhausting. It's a perfect sequence for where it is placed. Does it adapt well to the screen for a critical audience? Who cares?! It's truthful.
This movie is awesome....so much for the experts...memorable lines ...great stuff
The critics nailed it. This was a very disappointing film.
One of the few movies I can watch over and over. I love pool S&E DOES NOT !!!
This was the first Scorsese I saw in the theater. I was all about the dynamic camerawork and editing.
Newman goes on to win an Oscar in this movie. They must have been shocked..
Why did Ebert turn in to the T1000 halfway through?
This, quite possibly was the greatest performance by an actor in any movie. Paul Newman was so believable as the “born loser” character. How wrong they were on their takes on this masterpiece.
The problem was "The Hustler" is one of the greatest films ever made, makes this movie look like a money grab. Not one of Scorsese's best, not even close.
@@JohnGeorgeHill The Hustler was great, but that role in The Color of Money was spot on real grit. I disagree with your take, but respect your thought.
i strongly disagree, i love the movie especially considering that so few movies about pool hustling have been made.......
History always tells the truth... this movie is a timeless classic ... and these two critics were wrong
For sure and it gets better with age.
Scorsese only agreed to do this movie on the condition that the studio would finance The Last Temptation of Christ. A Cruise formula flick with the bonus opportunity for the Academy to belatedly honor Newman
You just made the smartest statement here. I actually had the fortune to work for Scorsese on Last Temptation for a YEAR and not ONCE did he ever mention The Color of Money to us - except to mention how smooth and polished the camera moves Balhaus did were. And notice how there's no DECENT Blu-ray of it in existence, nothing with any commentary or extras. It's because Marty's is embarrassed with this picture.
Makes sense.
this movie should have been in black and white
This movie is legend. Sorry guys, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Brilliant film.
Bad review?! They just expected more...because its a Scorsese movie. If 'Color of Money' was directed by some other stiff, they would have probably praised the film.
I feel bad criticizing Roger Ebert after all his health troubles, but this critique of his here is total bs, this was one awesome movie and Newman played it to a "T" and so did Cruise!
+J Kemper Ebert even says that out in the open in his written review of the film.
They both liked and respected Scorsese, so no.
they expected more because The Hustler is one of the greatest films of all time... and this one... is not.
i loved this movie. anyone who disagrees, doesnt matter
This is a fucking brilliant movie rest in peace siskel and Ebert and Paul Newman
I saw this film back in 1986 when it first came out. Did not enjoy it much at the time and would've agreed with Siskel and Ebert. However, after rewatching the film over the years, I was able to understand the movie more. This film was not about pool or 9 ball. The film was about hustling. And more so, the film was about human nature. Every characters in the film had to go through growth and change. Also, every characters had a different perspective of reality. The story it was trying to tell is so complex that the main plot has to remain simple or otherwise the story would get lost. This is one of the few films I have ever seen where each person sees their own reality just like real life. Still, the bulk of the story is told from Eddie Felson's perspective but you can see the divergence of view between the characters.
I wish I could go back to this year
I still quote this movie when I play pool.
I am actually shocked by Siskel and Eberts review.
Most sequels are terrible, and IMO are usually rushed cash grabs. I always thought The Color of Money was an excellent one.
I also loved the ending. Who wins the final match between Cruise and Newman doesnt matter. The movie isnt about Eddie vs. Vincent, its about Eddie vs Eddie, and the rekindling of the love of his life. Pool, and all the extras that go with it. Not every ending needs to be shown in cinema with a nice and neat bow on top. One of my favorite endings of all time in a movie is "The Silence of the Lambs." The director didnt need to show Anthony Hopkins eating his nemesis. We know what is going to happen, and its ok to leave it to imagination. The same is true here. Eddie or Vincent winning a fat envelope, or bragging rights doesnt matter. The ending is Eddie doing what he truly loves again, but as an older and wiser man than the arrogant and ignorant fool that Eddie Felson was in "The Hustler".
The Hustler boring but the sequel The Color of Money absolutely fucking brilliant
Cruise was the same guy in every 80's movie.
..not in born of the 4th of july.. his best preformance
@@mikeysmithh7819 Damn straight.
@@mikeysmithh7819
Yeah...
Because Oliver Stone
Put A Foot In His Ass...
"The Hustler" is a masterpiece. This movie was a fun follow up to it. That's it.
The Hustler first 25 minutes to open is a masterpiece. After that….. not so much. I think Color of Money is just as good Overall.
@@kevinfinnerty8414 The Hustler was NOT a pool movie. It was about character and self respect. The Hustler had a much deeper message.
They were totally dead wrong on this! Great dramatic performances, lots of laughs and a killer soundtrack. Welcome back Paul Newman “the Hustler”. Such an unforgettable performance.
I love this movie so much to this very day 🎱
2:30
Ebert doing his best impression of the face melting dude from Raider's of the Lost Ark.
These two critics were way wrong. This movie was one of Scorsese's many best.
But this movie had style Siskel and Ebert. I watched it in the 80's and wasn't crazy about it but now it's in my top 20 films of all-time.
This is a great movie.
lol I was watching Ebert's face transform as he got more upset that I had to go to the comments to see if other people noticed or it was just my computer. I started laughing as soon as I looked.
It is about Paul Newman's mid life crisis. Nothing else. IT is absolutely amazing
I loved this movie!!!!
Love this movie. Never understood why film snobs and critics loathed it so.
This was a good movie. They dislike this movie but praised days of thunder
For a film that had so many damn good performances, not just Paul Newman's oscar winning turn but Tom Cruise consolidating his rising-star status in the role of a highly talented but immature novice and solid supporting work by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver, and Forest Whitaker, it seems Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel really missed it here. This is a movie of gritty vignettes in the world of pool hustling, some brutal, some sad, some hilarious, but all of them having the look and feel of authenticity.
i dig ebert's warped face at around 2:20. it looks like his face is being sucked into oblivion.
It was the matrix before we knew about the matrix
That’s how he sees himself in the mirror
Good films are not defined by plot surprises.
Wow... Ebert's illustrating that there's no need for movies reviewers. Showcasing how subjective movie taste is. This was a fantastic movie.
I do not agree with anything they say. For such great critics they do not seem to understand the subject matter and are focused on 'character' which by the way they are wrong about as they 3 main leads all developed during the course of the movie with Newman and Cruise switching roles (motivation) at the end and Mastrantnio no longer dominating their relationship. The writing was really good if you are into pool, the acting spot on and the chemistry flawless. I really don't understand critics sometimes.
I agree it wasn’t a perfect film, but I liked this movie and give it 2 thumbs up.
They're obsessed with predictability in many of these negative reviews. Ebert gave A Few Good Men a thumbs down over it. Isn't it more about the journey than the destination?
As someone who actually likes "A Few Good Men," I understand the reason for Ebert's disappointment. It's true that the journey to the end is just as, if not more so, important than the final destination, but that still means the film has to "stick the landing."
As for predictability overall, when you have to see several hundred films a year like a film critic is required to do, you naturally start yearning for something that you haven't seen before. When Ebert is addressing the fact that the film basically tells the audience what is going to happen, then does exactly that, it's not exactly surprising. He happened to give that movie 2.5/4 stars, which is JUST BARELY below his thumbs up threshold. He doesn't think the movie is bad or anything like that, but that it had some misfires.
By the way, I'm sorry that this turned into a wall of text :P
@@ClassicalCentral I understand his point, but for my money, the passion of Cruise strategizing & impersonating Nicholson was so entertaining in itself that it didn't matter. Obviously, nobody's going to be surprised by a happy ending from Hollywood, but the audience still needs to suspend disbelief, because his plan was such a hail mary, long-shot of a gamble. And in my opinion, they did stick the landing by virtue of the amazing performances & dialogue. I do agree that it would've been more of a surprise to call Nicholson to the stand in the spur of the moment while co-counsel sits there clueless as to what he's doing. That's a very common troupe of legal shows, but It also would've been more far-fetched...Either way, I think it's a minor flaw.
That's why he says the characters are "locked into the story". The journey itself isn't interesting or developed enough so the only thing that we're left with is the destination, which was a bummer.
This movie is a classic. "Disappointment" to elitist sad-sacks.
elitist!?!
I just love it when frat boys gets insecure.
@@nikosvault ok hipster
One of my favorite films. Not Martin's best, I get that. But still compelling.
100%
What lying hypocrites! You can't have it BOTH ways. Either the ending didn't do what you thought it should as in climactic payoff or it was predictable. You can't say both... The point of the movies ending was that Eddie was back and life doesn't end in neat prepackaged ways...
Yeah he clearly got better after beating Moselle and other pool players. Hes back after putting in hours of work
movie owns
I must have missed the part when Daniel and Mr Miyagi competed against each other in The Karate Kid.
Yeah, that reference was incredibly confusing. Totally off base.
They completely missed the point of this film. It's not about recreating the reality of a pool game. It's the undethread of the characters, the subtle humor which can only be understood if you hung around pool rooms and played the game. It's also the beautiful cinematography and soundtrack behind it. This is not a film you really get and love from first viewing. It's a study, you have to watch it a few times to get the subtleties of the humor and the dialogue. I didn't get it at first either. But after a bunch of viewings I absolutely loved it, and it's still probably my desert island pick. Also this film started a huge 9balll boom of late 80s and 90s. I highly recommend it. And watch it alone without distractions from your girlfriend
Gene , the experienced psychonaut, kept his cool as he watched Ebert's face melt a few feet away.
The performances were just okay? Newman won the Oscar for Best Actor.
I've agreed with a number of Ebert's views of movies over the years, but I have to disagree with him on this one. This was a great movie, with an outstanding performance from the late Paul Newman.
It was a great movie. Newman won Oscar as well. Not every critic gets it right.
Just goes to show all movies are subjective. I really like this movie.
I guess I somehow missed the showdown between Daniel and Miyagi at the end of Karate Kid. What was that comparison about.
What they said rings true,still an excellent movie
I love Siskel and Ebert. Too bad they were both wrong about this one. It's a real good film, better than the original movie it was based on.
szs voc Go watch Transformers, since you obviously can’t appreciate films that are great cinema like this.
The Color of Money was a great movie but The Hustler was a classic. For me, The Hustler was definitely better.
This is so funny because it's one of the best films
kpictures Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, The Departed, and After Hours would have something to say about that.
Notice that the reviewers begin by reducing the movie to a boring-sounding, 2-dimensional plot. Then they criticize the plot for being boring and 2 dimensional. Reviews can miss the forest for the trees when they try to summarize something that can't be summarized in words. The movie is magic because it is so real. It's hard to summarize reality in words.
Anyone that is into pool loved this movie. That's all that needs to be said
the script got nominated for an oscar
And Newman won Best Actor for this.
arasace And yet I prefer Price and Scorsese’s followup work on “Life Lessons”.
@@sha11235 Newman's Best Actor for this was essentially a lifetime achievement award. It was a fine performance but it wasn't the best of the year on merit.
Is it me or is this guy the real rain man
Watch Ebert slowly turn into a cyborg, starting @ 1:45
Not their finest hour.... I wonder wha film they watched? Comparisons with the Karate Kid? Poor script? Are they shitting me? This was a great script brilliantly delivered b the cast, anything but predictable. Having Vincent welch on purpose and then teasing the final showdown but not showing it were brilliant ways to play against expectations. The film is about redemption and watching Newman climb out the soulless hustle world to recapture love of pool and it is a pleasure to watch no matter how. May times I’ve seen it. And ps......Werewolves of London scene is an all time great movie moment
Agree on werewolves of London scene. Also the Grainy Season part.
@@markmckenna9427 "The impossible dream.." I was a year old when this film came out. I quote it near daily, people rarely know what I'm referring to. I love it so much I don't care.
Linear, yes, but the ending never bothered me. I think the point was that Newman's character would win some and lose some so what did it really matter how any one match might end, he was "back," as he said.
I was about to lose my mind until I read the overwhelming positive comments here. I thought, "am I alone that I really love this movie?" I think we can mostly agree that Siskel and Ebert got it wrong on their review. The Color of Money is an incredible movie.
Ebert: the greatest movie critic of all time.
Ebert: we can disagree with him, not problem
These guys are high. This movie was anything but predictable. When I was sick growing up I would always stay at Grandmas house. There was a video store across the street. I rented this movie every time I could when I was out of school sick.
Fast Eddie won the break at the end. A quick hint that he is now the superior player and is going to win the match.
They COMPLETELY missed the point of the movie... 🤦🏻♂️
The Color of Money isn't really about a master taking a student under his wing and them facing off in the end. Eddie was a washed-up hustler turned liquor salesman who used Vince and Carmen. Eddie used his hustling/salesmanship skills to exploit their naiveté to make a lot of money off of them on the pool hustling circuit. But, while revisiting the echoes of his past life, he rediscovers his love of pool. After he gets humiliated and his hubris exposed by another hustler, it tears him up. He can't be half-way in this life and half-out of it. He basically abandons Vince to go back to basics and become a master again.
The movie is about Eddie's redemption and path back to mastery. The pool tournament, which has some of the best cinematography I've seen in a movie, isn't the big finale showdown Roger Ebert was expecting, so he was dissapointed. The real resolution in the movie was Eddie reaching that pinnacle where he can confidently say "I'm back!". This movie is one of my top-3 favorites. Sorry, but Ebert's just jaded. He wasn't paying fuckin' attention or something. The movie's not about the kid, Siskel!
Agree. They seemed to miss the point of the movie entirely. As someone who just turned 50 I appreciate this movie even more. Everyone gets to a point in life when you know your best years are behind you. Seeing Eddie go through it from beginning to end and being on that journey with him is what the movie is all about
Used Them or Not He Did Open up a New and Exciting and VERY Profitable Life For Vincent and Carmen...They Were Extremely Lucky They Met Him
The only reason the Academy gave Newman Best Actor for this film is because they realized they fucked up by NOT giving it to him for 'The Hustler' (1961.) The Best Actor for 1961? Maximilian Schell for 'Judgement at Nuremberg,' mainly because he spoke both German and English in it; he had NONE of the cockiness and tragedy Newman brought to Fast Eddie Felson.
The movie alone is way more famous than Siskel and ebert turned out to be. These guys alone were short term entertainment. Tom cruise has become famous beyond their wildest dreams in the 80’s
The movie isn’t that predictable, and I thought it was a great piece of filmmaking imo. Scorsese has made a great sequel (and I’m not too crazy about sequels) where it stands alone from the original in many interesting ways. It’s not one of his bests, but it is a really great movie.
1:52 does anyone notice the face melting, is this a They live reference,
The Color of Money is good, but the disappointment comes more from the fact that this is prime Scorsese directing Paul Newman who is playing what may be his most famous character from one of the greatest films of the 1960s.
Expectations are everything.
Really good movie actually
...BOTTOM LINE... I KNEW THESE GUYS WOULD LIKE THE MOVIE!!
Yikes Siskel and Ebert missed on this underrated classic.
Funny, despite this review, Paul Newman won the Oscar for it.
Was it really for this movie, or was it overcompensating for past snubs?
Siskel would have his wallet stolen if he wandered into any pool hall and Ebert couldn't fit through the front doors of a pool hall, that's why they hated this awesome movie.
1:56 I'm glad he started turning into a Minecraft character at this point. Made the review much more entertaining.
.....his HAIR was perfect....
This was a great movie these guys knew nothing at all....
From 1:08 to 1:32. Sounds like music, especially the last 5 seconds.