The Color of Money based on novel by Walter Tevis

The Color of Money based on novel by Walter Tevis, directed by Martin Scorsese, with Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Resilience, talent, money and values

Paul Newman has won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in this excellent motion picture

He was not only a mesmerizing actor, but a wonderful man, as we learn from a classic about the movie industry:

-          Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman, winner of two Oscars for his scripts: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men

Paul Newman is Eddie Nelson, a role he has played before, in the movie called The Hustler, and for which he was also nominated for an Academy Award.

In The Color of Money, Eddie Nelson is retired, he is not so young any more, but still interested in the pool game.

He discovers Vincent Lauria, a talented young man portrayed by the very good Tom Cruise, who is full of energy and zest.

Fast Eddie Nelson has a proposition for Vincent:

-          You come with your girlfriend and play for money on the road

-          Why would I do that?

-          She is bored and will leave you if you stay around here…

-          I don’t think so… words to that effect

Carmen aka Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio sees things pretty much the way Fast Eddie has suggested and helps him along the way.

Vincent is really good at playing pool, but not so keen on following the advice of his older partner, who becomes frustrated:

-          “You gotta have two things to win. You gotta have brains and you gotta have balls. Now, you got too much of one and not enough of the other.”

Vincent is acting like a prima donna and he is interested in putting a show, getting the attention and validation of the others.

Nathaniel Branden, the ultimate expert on self –esteem would say that he lacks confidence and this is why he is so exuberant.

I think…

On the other hand, Vincent might have the right values, at least for some time, while he is interested in winning.

His role is to play the fool, pretend not to know much about the game and then win the trust of the opponent to win his money:

-          The Hustler that his partner used to be some decades ago

One night, Vincent takes the Balabushka- a trophy for great players- and challenges a very good adversary.

The reaction of the audience can be one of annoyance and frustration with this rebel who is upsetting Eddie.

-          But it could be a case of finding the Calling

-          When one does something he or she is very good at, likes a lot and has meaning, the money become less important

-          Just like for Vincent in his early stages

Watching his partner and student play has created a spark within Fast Eddie Elson, who wants to play again.

And he does, against a man played by Forest Whitaker, who talks about being the subject of psychological experiments…

-          But he is a Hustler playing against…another former Hustler

-          And he wins

This is causing a lot of pain fore Eddie, who is very upset for falling prey, when he is in the game of hunting for weak adversaries…

-          How could I fall for that?

-          The booze, all the signs were there and I still did not see it…not an exact quote

After this, he parts ways with Vincent and Carmen, giving them two thousand dollars for the road to Atlantic City.

That is where the best of the best, the crème de la crème of this game meet to establish who the best is.

-          Eddie and his former partner have to play against each other for a place in the competition and there are surprises there

-          But the ending is simply fabulous:

-          I am back in the game!

Excellent ending