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The Rewatchables ·

The Color of Money

year 1986decade 80sdirector Martin Scorsesegenre Sportsgenre Drama
host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanhost Sean Fennesseyproducer Craig Horlbeck
All 14 categories

Most Rewatchable Scene · 26:15

The Chalkies/Werewolves sequence leads many choices

Chris Ryan: Vincent beating Julian and Eddie shutting down Carmen are nominated

Chris Ryan: The entire Chalkies sequence, including Werewolves of London and Eddie’s speech, is selected

The film

The Color of Money (1986)

Directed by Martin Scorsese · Sports

119 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Paul Newman Eddie "Fast Eddie" Felson
Tom Cruise Vincent Lauria
Helen Shaver Janelle
John Turturro Julian
Bill Cobbs Orvis
Iggy Pop Skinny Player on Road
Elizabeth Bracco Diane at Bar
Bruce A. Young Moselle
Paul Herman Player in Casino Bar
Ron Dean Guy in Crowd

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

26:15

Most Rewatchable Scene

The Chalkies/Werewolves sequence leads many choices

The Chalkies/Werewolves sequence leads many choices

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:26:15Read transcript
  • Vincent beating Julian and Eddie shutting down Carmen are nominated — Chris Ryan
  • The entire Chalkies sequence, including Werewolves of London and Eddie’s speech, is selected — Chris Ryan
  • Eddie and Carmen posing as a couple, the money-player battle, Amos hustling Eddie, Eddie’s comeback montage, and the tournament are nominated — Chris Ryan
  • Eddie’s dinner demonstration and Balabushka bar sequence are nominated — Bill Simmons
  • Grady Seasons and Amos are selected for Scorsese’s visual and editing choices — Sean Fennessey
  • The Werewolves sequence is explicitly selected when a participant is asked for his choice — Bill Simmons
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38:25

What’s Aged the Best?

Sports craft, images, music, style, Newman, and continuation-sequel design

Sports craft, images, music, style, Newman, and continuation-sequel design

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:38:25Read transcript
  • The pool matches work as clear sports scenes with visible winners and losers — Chris Ryan
  • The art-of-luck line, three-character composition, Vince shirt, score, soundtrack, and numerous pool-table shots are praised
  • Richard Price’s writing career is praised
  • The film’s 1980s clothes, Newman’s mustache, Cadillac, and screen presence still look stylish — Chris Ryan
  • The sequel subtly turns Eddie into the older mentor he once resisted without remaking The Hustler
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48:04

What’s Aged the Worst?

Stocker, fake Balabushka, dated pool cameos, cash betting, phones, and jukebox plausibility

Stocker, fake Balabushka, dated pool cameos, cash betting, phones, and jukebox plausibility

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:48:04Read transcript
  • The obscure Stocker arcade game is criticized over more durable choices — Chris Ryan
  • The production used another cue made to resemble a Balabushka rather than an original — Chris Ryan
  • 1980s pool-star cameos no longer register widely
  • Waving cash bets and the absence of phones or social media date the hustling premise
  • Warren Zevon playing at Chalkies is questioned
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53:24

Casting What-Ifs

Minnesota Fats and late-added Janelle

Minnesota Fats and late-added Janelle

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:53:24Read transcript
  • Jackie Gleason and Minnesota Fats were considered but the character felt attached artificially — Sean Fennessey
  • Janelle was reportedly added late to avoid misreading Eddie’s fascination with Vincent as attraction — Sean Fennessey
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54:53

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Paul Herman or Bruce A. Young

Paul Herman or Bruce A. Young

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:54:53Read transcript
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55:55

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:55Read transcript
  • Tom Cruise wins for the Werewolves of London performance
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56:27

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:56:27Read transcript
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57:48

Recasting Couch

Julie Christie as Janelle

Julie Christie as Janelle

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:57:48Read transcript
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1:00:07

Half-Assed Internet Research

Oscar recurrence, trick shots, Doom, pool sales, and Scorsese project origin

Oscar recurrence, trick shots, Doom, pool sales, and Scorsese project origin

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:07Read transcript
  • Newman joined a small group nominated for replaying an earlier role — Chris Ryan
  • Cruise performed every trick shot except one that would have required two more practice days — Chris Ryan
  • The video game Doom was reportedly named from Vincent’s line — Chris Ryan
  • Pool equipment sales reportedly rose after the film — Chris Ryan
  • Scorsese reportedly became interested in Henry Hill after reading Wiseguy during production — Chris Ryan
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1:03:09

Apex Mountain

Billiards, Balabushka cues, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and sweater vests

Billiards, Balabushka cues, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and sweater vests

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:09Read transcript
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1:09:51

Picking Nits

Eddie’s work and unexplained moral shift

Eddie’s work and unexplained moral shift

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:51Read transcript
  • Eddie’s liquor-wholesaling and possible bootlegging business are clarified — Bill Simmons
  • Eddie’s tournament forfeit and sudden rejection of hustling are criticized as insufficiently dramatized — Chris Ryan
  • The Amos hustle is defended as a crisis that makes Eddie value excellence and honest victory; his private celebration after beating Vincent demonstrates that change — Sean Fennessey
  • Eddie is interpreted as believing he is in a sports movie while Vincent reveals they remain in a con-man movie
  • The defense is rebutted because Eddie invented and taught the con before abruptly disavowing it — Bill Simmons
  • Vincent’s claim that Eddie used the young pair is interpreted as Eddie using their journey to rediscover his passion
  • A late-night bar conversation with Helen Shaver is proposed as the missing explanatory scene — Chris Ryan
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1:14:24

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

No series; another 1990s Eddie Felson film

No series; another 1990s Eddie Felson film

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:24Read transcript
  • A ten-episode series is rejected, while another 1990s Eddie Felson film is welcomed
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1:15:07

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Vincent’s future, song choices, final match, and relationship

Vincent’s future, song choices, final match, and relationship

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:07Read transcript
  • Vincent might return to Child World, become a televised pool star, or be murdered soon
  • The most absurd Chalkies song and best Cruise sing-along are debated; Top Gun wins the latter — Chris Ryan
  • Leaving the final match unresolved is defended; Vincent is predicted to win
  • Vincent and Carmen are predicted to split through his death or her marriage to a wealthy financier — Chris Ryan
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1:19:01

Who Won the Movie?

Paul Newman

Paul Newman

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:01Read transcript
  • Newman is chosen twice and then confirmed as the winner
  • Newman’s first competitive Oscar is criticized as overdue — Chris Ryan
  • A revised Verdict ballot is debated between Newman and Hoffman, with Kingsley in Gandhi placed third — Chris Ryan
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More from the conversation

The film is framed as a torch-passing event between Paul Newman and Tom Cruise.
Approx. transcript time · 00:02:09Read transcript
A personal anecdote describes playing and occasionally wagering on pool in a Boston bar during the 1990s.
Approx. transcript time · 00:28:18Read transcript
The closing producer discussion identifies Child World as a real chain operating from 1962 to 1992.
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:19Read transcript

Mentions across The Rewatchables

Recorded movie reference

Top Gun

The Rewatchables · aired July 23, 2019

The Color of Money is listed in the sourced research for this episode. The precise discussion has not been linked yet.

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