2nd, or even 3rd tier Scorsese is still better than almost everything else out there
Starts with a voice-over from Scorsese himself like Mean Streets—then we get the strong Robbie Robertson music drop during the credits
Newman’s Oscar win– he was overdue (0 for 7 at the time) and this isn’t his best work- but it’s solely an honorable Oscar- he’s superb here
Newman’s Oscar win– he was overdue (0 for 7 at the time) and this isn’t his best work- but it’s solely an honorable Oscar- he’s superb here
After the credits with great a great long take shot going from a close-up of bourbon to Paul Newman peddling his liquor/flirting/hustling with his client/girlfriend— great cinematic energy to start
Cruise’s “Vincent” is a great character—every bit the equivalent/adversary Gleason’s “Fats” was in the original 1961 film. He’s doing karate with the pool cue (clearly showing off Cruise’s detailed/learned approach to method acting), the hair, the lip-synching, the video games, the shirt with his name on it- haha. Needless to say Cruise is very believable as a character (a “natural flake”) and as an excellent pool player – the fact that neither he nor Newman blow each other off the screen completely is a compliment to them both- and the casting here
He’s doing karate with the pool cue (clearly showing off Cruise’s detailed/learned approach to method acting)
ruise is very believable as a character (a “natural flake”) and as an excellent pool player – the fact that neither he nor Newman blow each other off the screen completely is a compliment to them both- and the casting here
Whip pans around the pool table and elevated sound effects of the pool cues and balls—“kid has a sledgehammer for a break”—with Phil Collins luminous “One More Night” in the background – it’s a great moment to see the way Newman’s Eddie looks at Cruise’s Vincent in awe
A brilliant shot of the three faces stepping into the frame. Scorsese would do this again – most famously in Casino
A brilliant shot of the three faces stepping into the frame. Scorsese would do this again – most famously in Casino
Turturro is fine- but it’s Forest Whitaker who comes out looking pretty amazing here- he’s in the film for 5 minutes and steals scenes from Paul Newman- not bad
Forest Whitaker who comes out looking pretty amazing here- he’s in the film for 5 minutes and steals scenes from Paul Newman- not bad
An active camera- this is Scorsese—we’re tracking all over the place— there’s a great reflection in the 8-ball shot, a great 360 shot after Cruise cleans up the table
Matt Brunson- “Creative Loafing” “Working with his crack technical team, Scorsese turns the film into a high-wire act, using everything from the crack of the balls to the soundtrack (best bit: Cruise playing and preening to Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London”) to pump up the action.”
It works as a stand-alone film and as a very worthy sequel to the 1961 Rossen film – The Hustler
Angie Errigo – “Empire Magazine” – “A joy to see two masters (Scorsese and Newman) at ease with their work, and one, Cruise, in the making.”
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