Drama
United States of America
The Color of Money is a 1986 drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Paul Newman reprising his role as Eddie Felson from the 1961 film The Hustler. Tom Cruise co-stars as Vincent Lauria, a young and talented pool player whom Eddie takes under his wing to teach him the finer points of the game and how to hustle.
Eddie, now retired from the game, works as a liquor salesman and is married to a woman named Janelle (Helen Shaver). He witnesses Vincent playing pool in a bar and sees potential in him, deciding to become his mentor. Eddie buys him a new cue stick and takes him on the road to hustle for money.
As they travel from town to town, Eddie tries to impart his wisdom and experience to Vincent, but finds himself frustrated with the younger man's flashy and arrogant attitude. They have a falling out, with Vincent deciding to go solo.
Eddie then embarks on his own quest to regain his former glory, entering different pool halls and working his way up the ranks of the players. He also meets up with a former lover, Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), who becomes his new partner and love interest. Meanwhile, Vincent becomes more involved with a slick and dangerous pool hustler named Amos (John Turturro), who shows him a darker side of the game.
Eventually, Eddie and Vincent cross paths again at a high-stakes pool tournament. They face off in a tense match, with Eddie trying to teach Vincent one final lesson about what it means to be a true pool hustler. In the end, Vincent emerges victorious, but with a newfound respect for Eddie's wisdom and experience.
The film was a critical and commercial success, earning Newman his only Academy Award for Best Actor after eight previous nominations. It also cemented Cruise's status as a leading Hollywood star, and earned Scorsese his first directing nomination in nearly a decade.
