The Color of Money

Based on the novel by Walter Tevis, The Color of Money is the sequel to another Tevis novel in The Hustler in which “Fast” Eddie Felson has retired from the world of pool-hustling as he catches the eye of a young hustler in whom he wants to support only to be coaxed back into the game. Directed by Martin Scorsese and screenplay by Richard Price, the film plays into a man who tries to disconnect himself from the world that made him famous only to come back after seeing a young man with talent as Paul Newman reprises his role as “Fast” Eddie Felson. Also starring Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver, John Turturro, Forest Whitaker, and Bill Cobbs. The Color of Money is a compelling and rapturous film from Martin Scorsese.

Set more than twenty years after “Fast” Eddie Felson had become the greatest pool hustler in the streets, the film revolves around a retired Felson who has now become a successful liquor salesman while making money on other hustlers. Yet, he catches the eye of a young hustler whom he sees as someone with the potential to be great as he takes the young man and his girlfriend on the road to teach him the trade of hustling. Along the way, Felson teaches Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise) about how to make money and how to lose below his abilities in order to win big. By traveling to famous pool halls around the country before taking part of a big 9-ball tournament in Atlantic City, Felson finds himself getting the urge to return but has to contend with aging as well as the fact that there are those who are younger and know the trade of hustling just as good as he did.

Richard Price’s screenplay explores the world of hustling as Felson is someone who is a master at it but hasn’t played in more than 20 years while his eyesight has sort of deteriorated. Though he tries to live a normal life while watching pool hustling from afar, he finds something in Vincent that makes him want to come back. While Vincent is talented, he is immature as Felson would take him under his wing along with Vincent’s girlfriend Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) who has managed Vincent’s dealings as she would pay close attention to Felson’s methods. Even as she would help Felson in playing the role of hustler as it would cause some issues with the very immature Vincent who realizes that part of the art of hustling is to act the part of being someone who isn’t good and then hustle that player. Through Vincent, Felson would live through him but would eventually become selfish once Vincent improves as its third act would have both men attend the tournament against each other.

Martin Scorsese’s direction is very stylish not just in his presentation of the world of 9-ball pool and hustling but also in a world where it’s about survival and making money anyway a person can. Shot largely in parts of Chicago as well as bits of Atlantic City, the film plays like a world that is changing where the valor and classiness of the pool halls is now nothing more than an urban decay of sorts. While Scorsese does bring in some stylish usage of close-ups and medium shots along with some simpler moments, it is all about the sense of atmosphere in these pool halls as well as the need to play and hustle someone. Scorsese’s approach to the games are presented with a sense of rhythm as well as a bit of psychology into what will take for that person to win and win big but also how to lose and then make that person feel like shit.

Scorsese would also go into extreme close-ups to showcase a pool ball being hit by a pool cue as well as other elements that definitely play into a sense of style. Notably in his approach to tracking shots where he would go from a medium to wide or vice-versa as it plays into Felson’s love-hate relationship with hustling. There’s also some unique crane shots that Scorsese would use as it would be prominent in the film’s third act in the 9-ball tournament in Atlantic City. Many of the images that Scorsese would create are very unconventional as it strays from what is expected in films like this but it also plays into how intense these games are where it is about strategy and see how one can lose. Overall, Scorsese creates a very engaging and riveting film about a former pool hustler teaching a young hustler the trick of the trade.

Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from its usage of natural lights for some of the exteriors and daytime interiors to the lighting in some of the pool halls as well as the lightings for the tournament. Editor Thelma Schoonmaker does incredible work with the editing with her stylish approach to montages, jump-cuts, and dissolves to play into the world of pool and hustling. Production designer Boris Leven and set decorator Karen O’Hara do fantastic work with the design of the pool halls from the richness of the one in Atlantic City to the more decayed, street look of the ones Vincent and Felson go to.

Costume designer Richard Bruno does nice work with the costumes to play into the youthful look of Vince as well as the suits that Felson wears to represent his sense of the old school. Sound editor Skip Lievsay does superb work with the sound as it plays into the atmosphere of the bars and pool halls the characters go to as it has a sense of atmosphere that is very street and has its own sense of rules. The film’s music by Robbie Robertson is great as it is largely blues-based music to play into the world of the pool halls while compiling a soundtrack that features music from Phil Collins, Warren Zevon, Robert Palmer, Mark Knopfler, B.B. King, Willie Dixon, Don Henley, and Eric Clapton.

The casting by Gretchen Rennell is brilliant as it features some notable appearances and small roles from punk rock legend Iggy Pop as an opponent Vince hustles on the road, professional pool players Grady Mathews, Steve Mizerak, Keith McCready, and Jimmy Mataya as themselves, and Bill Cobbs as an old friend of Felson who runs a pool hall. John Turturro is terrific as a friend of Felson who gets beaten by Vince as he thinks he can take him. Forest Whitaker as a young hustler Felson faces off with where the result would have serious consequences for Felson. Helen Shaver is wonderful as Felson’s girlfriend Janelle who tries to keep Felson grounded while being aware of his past as a hustler as she wonders if he’ll lose it all over again.

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is amazing as Carmen as Vince’s girlfriend who joins Vince and Felson on the road while learning about Felson’s methods very closely as she realizes there is more than what is going on as she tries to make sure that Vince is well-paid and succeeds. Tom Cruise is excellent as Vincent Lauria as a young pool hustler who is great at pool but lacks the knowledge to make serious money as he copes with his immaturity and what Felson wants from him. Finally, there’s Paul Newman in a remarkable performance as “Fast” Eddie Felson as a former pool hustler who is fascinated by the young Vince as he wants to mentor him only to find himself back in the world that he’s been detached from for so many years as it’s a performance full of energy but also one of humility as Newman brings a lot of gravitas to the role as it’s one of his best performances.

The Color of Money is a phenomenal film from Martin Scorsese that features a great performance from Paul Newman as “Fast” Eddie Nelson. Along with amazing performances from Tom Cruise and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and a killer soundtrack. The film isn’t just one of Scorsese’s most entertaining films but also a key study into the world of hustling and an old veteran trying to teach a young hustler the trades of making big money in a cruel world. In the end, The Color of Money is a sensational film from Martin Scorsese.

Related: The Hustler

Martin Scorsese Films: (Who’s That Knocking on My Door?) - (Street Scenes) - Boxcar Bertha - (Mean Streets) - Italianamerican - Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore - Taxi Driver - New York, New York - American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince - (The Last Waltz) - Raging Bull - The King of Comedy - After Hours - The Last Temptation of Christ - New York Stories-Life Lessons - Goodfellas - Cape Fear (1991 film) - The Age of Innocence - (A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies) - (Casino) - (Kundun) - (My Voyage to Italy) - Bringing Out the Dead - (The Blues-Feel Like Going Home) - Gangs of New York - (The Aviator) - No Direction Home - The Departed - Shine a Light - Shutter Island - (A Letter to Elia) - (Public Speaking) - George Harrison: Living in the Material World - Hugo - The Wolf of Wall Street - (The 50 Year Argument) - Silence (2016 film) - (The Irishman) - Killers of the Flower Moon - (An Afternoon with SCTV)

© thevoid99 2015

That Thing You Do!

Written, directed, and co-starring Tom Hanks, That Thing You Do! is the story about the brief rise and fall of a band from Erie, Pennsylvania who become one-hit wonders during their meteoric rise to stardom. The film is an exploration into the world of 1960s pop-rock music as a jazz drummer comes in to play for a local band as he changes their fortune into this one song that would become a major hit for the band. Starring Tom Everett Scott, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry, Liv Tyler, Charlize Theron, and Chris Ellis. That Thing You Do! is a charming and entertaining film from Tom Hanks.

The film is a simple story of a band from Erie, Pennsylvania during the early 1960s where they ask a local jazz drummer to fill in as he would do something to their song that would help them win a contest and later achieve fame and success all in a brief span of time. While it’s a film with a common story about one-hit wonders, there is something very engaging in the way Tom Hanks tells the story as it plays to not only aspects of his own youth in an age where British bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Dave Clark Five inspired kids to pick up instruments and play rock n’ roll. It is largely told from the perspective of four young guys who had struck a chord with their audience and talent agents who believe that these guys have something. Yet, their success is short-lived due to mistrust towards record labels as well as other things as its drummer in Guy Patterson (Tom Everett Scott) is seen by many as the smart one who is responsible for the band’s success.

Hanks’ screenplay definitely plays to this traditional schematics of a rise-and-fall scenario yet it’s more about how Guy Patterson turned this little band in Erie called the One-Ders (often mistaken for the O-Needers) and gave them attention by turning a ballad called That Thing You Do! into an upbeat pop-rock song in order to win a local contest. Though Guy was just a replacement drummer, his desire to win is what changes things as the fortunes of guitarist/vocalist/leader Jimmy Mattingly (Johnathon Schaech), guitarist/vocalist Lenny Haise (Steve Zahn), and the unnamed bass player (Ethan Embry) go well as Jimmy’s girlfriend Faye (Liv Tyler) joins them for the ride. Even as they would get the song recorded with the help of Guy’s uncle Pastor Bob (Chris Isaak) that gets the attention of a local manager in Phil Horace (Chris Ellis) who would then give the record to Playtone talent agent Mr. White (Tom Hanks) who would manage and rename the band as the Wonders into stardom. Mr. White would take the band on the road with other acts from the label as the Wonders become stars just as the song races up the charts.

While there are elements of cynicism about the way the record industry works, there is still this air of innocence as it relates to the band’s rise as everyone including Faye are excited. Upon the news that the song went top ten and the band had to leave the touring circuit for a chance to appear on national television, things change where Jimmy begins to question things about the band’s future. While Jimmy is seen as the talent of the group, Faye as the muse, Lenny as the buffoon, and the bass player as the innocent player. Guy is always seen as the smart person in the band as he is the first to ask questions about contracts and such as well as what the band should do. While Guy is having lots of fun, he still has a desire to play jazz which is his first love as he would meet his idol in Del Paxton (Bill Cobbs) who would tell him the dangers of being in a popular band and all of the trappings of stardom late in the film. All of which culminates with the band’s performance at a national TV show for all of America to see but it would also be a moment that would shape the band into their downfall.

Hanks’ direction is very simple as it does have this feel of a film that is set in the 1960s in a small town in Pennsylvania. Much of it involve Hanks just keeping things to the point such as his introduction to Guy Patterson as this young man who works in his father’s appliance store while spends much of his off hours playing along to his favorite jazz records. It is in sharp contrast to the more raucous world of rock n’ roll which Guy likes but prefers jazz as Guy always looks more like a guy who is into jazz while everyone else is more in tune with what is happening in the 1960s. Hanks’ approach to humor definitely feels natural as well as having this air of spontaneity such as the scene where the original drummer Chad (Giovanni Ribisi) breaks his arm which would lead to Jimmy and Lenny asking Guy to fill in. Hanks’ compositions don’t aim for elements of styles though there are some homage to the pop films of the 1960s including the surfer film where Jonathan Demme makes a cameo as that film’s director.

The direction also plays into that world of 1960s pop concerts and talent contests where the latter showcases a variety of music performances from folk to mariachi music where it would be the One-Ders that would steal the show due to Guy’s fast drumming on Jimmy’s ballad. Hanks’ usage of crane shots definitely play to the scope of some of the performances as well as how audiences react to these shows. Even as Hanks uses an intimacy to play into the Wonders’ rise where they play clubs as it has an air of excitement which is a major contrast to the climatic TV performance they would play where the cameras are much broader in its look while the song itself becomes, expectedly, a bit tiresome which is typical of one-hit wonders. Yet, it does play into how brief a one-hit wonder band career can be but it would lead to moments for these individuals who would prosper with their brief encounter with fame. Overall, Hanks creates a very delightful and fun film about a band’s brief rise and fall as one-hit wonders.

Cinematographer Tak Fujimoto does excellent work with the film‘s colorful cinematography for much of the daytime exteriors including scenes in California along with the intimate and dark look of the clubs the Wonders would play early in the film as well as the broad lights of the variety show they would play. Editor Richard Chew does brilliant work with the editing in creating a few montages to play into the band‘s success along with some stylish cuts to convey some of the film‘s offbeat humor. Production designer Victor Kempster, with set decorator Merideth Boswell and art director Dan Webster, does fantastic work with the set pieces from the look of the appliance store Guy‘s family runs as well as the hotels and other places to play into the look of the 60s. Costume designer Colleen Atwood does wonderful work with the costumes to play into the looks of the characters from the colored suits they would wear as a band to the clothes that Faye wears.

Visual effects supervisor Steve Rundell does nice work with some of the minimal visual effects such as the audience the Wonders would play in the tour along with a few tricks to make the film look like it was set in the 60s. Sound editor Richard King does superb work with the film‘s sound as it plays into the sound of the audience singing along to the song as well as some scenes set in intimate places such as the basement where Guy plays his drums. The film’s music by Howard Shore is terrific for its mixture of 60s-based kitsch music with a few orchestral touches and some guitar-pop flourishes to play into the period of time in the film. Even as the film’s original music features songs written by Hanks, Shore, Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, and several others to play into that period of 60s rock and pop music plus some jazz pieces.

The casting by Howard Feuer is incredible as it features cameo appearances from Peter Scolari as the variety show host Troy Chesterfield, Gedde Watanabe as a Playtone photographer, Tracy Reiner as the star of the beach film, Jonathan Demme as that film’s director, Barry Sobel as the goofball in the beach film, Clint Howard as a radio DJ, Bryan Cranston as Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Marc McClure as the TV show director, Colin Hanks as Faye’s escort to the TV show, Elizabeth Hanks as a bored girl at the dress shop, Rita Wilson as a jazz club waitress, Holmes Osborne as Guy’s father, and Giovanni Ribisi as the Wonders’ original drummer Chad who would break his arm.

Other notable small roles include Chris Ellis as the drummers’ original manager Phil Horace who would get the band to play top gigs around Pennsylvania, Alex Rocco as the Playtone Records boss Sol Siler, Robert Torti as the pop singer Freddy Fredrickson, Chaille Percival as the pop diva Diane Dane, Obba Babatunde as a hotel concierge who would treat Guy and Faye with great care, and Chris Isaak as Guy’s uncle Bob who would record their first record. Bill Cobbs is superb as jazz legend Del Paxton whom Guy idolizes as he would finally meet him at a Los Angeles jazz club as he would warn Guy about the fleeting moments of fame and being in a band. Charlize Theron is wonderful as Guy’s self-absorbed and vain girlfriend Tina who is often concerned with how she looks rather than what Guy does. Liv Tyler is fantastic as Jimmy’s girlfriend Faye who is the muse for the songs that Jimmy writes as she joins the band on tour where she definitely connects with Guy in terms of having fun.

Tom Hanks is amazing in a supporting role as Playtone music executive Mr. White who watches over the Wonders in their rise to fame while making sure they do things right as he takes a liking to Guy for his talent and brains. Ethan Embry is terrific as the unnamed Bass Player who is an aspiring Marine as he is the most innocent member of the group that has a thing for the soul-singing group the Chantrellines. Steve Zahn is funny as Lenny as the dim-witted member of the group that likes to have a good time and flirt with the ladies. Johnathon Schaech is excellent as Jimmy Mattingly as the group lead singer/songwriter who is the most serious member of the group as he hopes to create his own music until he realizes what he must do to make it. Finally, there’s Tom Everett Scott in a brilliant performance as Guy Patterson as a jazz-loving drummer who joins the Wonders as he reaches stardom and becomes famous for wearing sunglasses while being the smartest person in the group into doing what is best for the band.

That Thing You Do! is a phenomenal film from Tom Hanks as it features a great cast and a fun soundtrack. The film is definitely a very joyful and exciting film that not only captures a period in time where everyone was having fun listening to rock n’ roll but also in how young men formed bands in the hopes of making it. It’s also a film that manages to be re-watchable and still manage to be as potent since its original release. In the end, That Thing You Do! is a sensational film from Tom Hanks.

© thevoid99 2014

The Hudsucker Proxy

Directed by Joel & Ethan Coen and written by the Coen Brothers and Sam Raimi, The Hudsucker Proxy is the story of a business graduate who starts out as a mailroom clerk and then creates an idea that makes him the president of the company. Meanwhile, a company director decides to create a scam where the young president will take the fall. The film explores the world of ambition as it combines many of the Coen Brothers unique humor and quirks. Starring Tim Robbins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Paul Newman, Bill Cobbs, Bruce Campbell, John Mahoney, and Charles Durning along with appearances from Coen Brothers regulars John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, and Jon Polito. The Hudsucker Proxy is a sprawling yet witty film from the Coen Brothers.

It’s 1958 as Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins) arrives to New York from Indiana looking for a top job with his business degree. The only problem is that the jobs need experience as he ends up working on the mailroom as a clerk for Hudsucker Industries. On the day he arrives into the building, the company’s founder Waring Hudsucker (Charles Durning) jumps out of a building where the board wonders what to do as directing manager Sidney J. Mussburger (Paul Newman) devises a scheme to implant a moron as company president for the stock to go down so he can buy its controlling interest. When Norville is asked to deliver the infamous blue letter to Mussburger, things go bad as Mussburger uses Norville to become president as stocks start to go down.

With news over Norville’s new role as president of Hudsucker Industries, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Amy Archer (Jennifer Jason Leigh) of the Manhattan Argus is assigned to write about Norville as she pretends to be his secretary to find out more about him. During her work posing as Norville’s secretary, she discovers about Mussburger’s plot from the scoop of the building’s clock operator Moses (Bill Cobbs). After a disastrous party with investors, Norville unveils his new idea in the hula-hoop as Mussburger believes it will be the product that will put Hudsucker stock further down. Instead, Mussburger’s scheme backfires when the hula-hoop becomes a smash hit with Norville being the toast of the town much to Mussburger’s dismay.

Norville’s sudden arrogance leads to Amy’s resignation as secretary as he struggles to find new ideas where the building’s elevator operator Buzz (Jim True-Frost) is fired for creating the flexi-straw as Norville claims it’s a stupid idea. Meanwhile, Mussburger makes a discovery through his henchman Aloysius (Harry Bugin) as he uses the secret to overthrow Norville who is condemned as a fraud until he discovers a much bigger secret.

The film is about a naïve business graduate who unknowingly becomes part of a directing manager’s scheme for a business to fail only to backfire when an idea becomes hugely successful. It’s a film that explores the world of corporations and schemes where a board director tries to take control of a company’s stock as he implants this very nice but dim-witted man to become company president so everything would fail. Yet, there’s strange forces such as a fast-talking news reporter and a clock operator who would play with the fates of this young man as the former eventually falls for him.

The script by the Coen Brothers and Sam Raimi does have a bit of formulaic air to the story such as Norville Barnes’ evolution from naïve mail clerk to a smug president who starts to act like the man who is trying to make him look like a fool. Yet, it does manage to work in the way that Norville is portrayed as a guy who just wants to help a company after the death of its founder as he would create an idea that would eventually help the company out much to the dismay of the board and its antagonist Sidney J. Mussburger. Mussburger isn’t a typical villain due to the fact that he’s very smart while slyly plays mentor to the well-meaning Norville and build him up only to tear him down.

Then there’s Amy Archer who starts out as a spy trying to figure out if Norville is the imbecile that people claim to be but she realizes he’s just a pawn for something bigger as she tries to help him become the president the company needed. Though the part about her falling for him is sort of clichéd, it’s what the Coens and Raimi go for since it’s a film that is a tribute to these slapstick comedies as Archer is a character who is quite complex as she sort of acts like a tough broad in the newsroom only to realize that she acts too masculine to fit in with the boys. Despite a few issues with the story, the Coen Brothers and Sam Raimi do create a very entertaining and clever script.

The direction of the Coen Brothers is definitely stylish from the way the board room meetings are shot to the way the mailroom is presented with tracking camera shots to exemplify its chaotic atmosphere. Style is definitely prevalent in the way the Coen Brothers chose to present the film as it features fake newsreel clips along with headlines and all sorts of things to play up Norville’s rise. With Sam Raimi providing some second unit direction for some exterior shots as the film includes a lot of set pieces and an opening crane shot that features New York City presented as miniature sets. The overall work that the Coen Brothers create is truly fascinating as they create a truly superb and engaging film.

Cinematographer Roger Deakins does a brilliant job with the film‘s photography from the way the offices are lit for day and nighttime exteriors to set the mood to the more lavish array of lighting for the snowy climatic scenes in the city. Editor Thom Noble does a nice job with the editing to play up the sense of style while creating dazzling montages of Norville’s rise to success. Production designer Dennis Gassner, with set decorator Nancy Haigh and art director Leslie McDonald, does a fantastic job with the set pieces created such as the offices of Norville and Mussburger to the room in between where the building’s clock is being operated.

Costume designer Richard Hornung does fabulous work with the costumes from the suits that the men wear to the stylish dresses that Amy wears to play up her tough personality. Visual effects supervisor Michael J. McAllister and miniatures supervisor Mark Stetson do amazing work with the visual effects creating including the film‘s opening shot and the scene involving Waring Hudsucker‘s suicide fall. Sound editor Skip Lievsay does terrific work with the sound from the way the clocks sound inside to the chaos of the party, mailroom, and newsroom scenes.

The film’s score by Carter Burwell is excellent for its playful pieces for the film’s humor to more soaring orchestral arrangements that play up Norville’s triumphs and other suspenseful, dramatic moments in the film. The film’s soundtrack also includes an array of standards from Duke Ellington and Grace Bumby to classical music from Georges Bizet, Frederic Chopin, Luigi Boccherini, Peter Tchaikovsky, and Aram Khachaturian.

The casting by Donna Isaacson and John S. Lyons is great for the ensemble that is created as it includes cameos from Coen Brothers regulars like Steve Buscemi as a beatnik bartender, Jon Polito as a businessman-in-waiting, and John Goodman as the voice of a newsreel man. Other notable appearances include Peter Gallagher as a lounge singer, Mike Starr as a news reporter, Patrick Cranshaw as an aging mail sorter, Bruce Campbell as a news reporter Amy likes to slap around, and notorious Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith as a bombshell Norville was linked to. Standout small but noteworthy supporting parts include John Mahoney’s as Amy’s news-grabbing editor, Harry Bugin as Mussburger’s silent henchman Aloysius, Bill Cobbs as the wise and informative clock operator Moses, Jim True-Frost as the fast-talking elevator operator Buzz, and Charles Durning in a small but very memorable part as Warring Hudsucker.

Jennifer Jason Leigh is great as the fast-talking and snooping reporter Amy Archer who sports a very exaggerated accent as Leigh brings great humor and charisma as the woman who unlikely falls for Norville. Paul Newman is outstanding as the smarmy Sidney J. Mussburger who tries to scheme his way into taking over Hudsucker Industries as he brings a wonderful sense of charm and bravado to the character. Finally, there’s Tim Robbins in a wonderful performance as Norville Barnes as he brings a boyish persona to a guy that hopes to do great only to be a pawn in a scheme as Robbins exudes some humor and humility into the role.

The Hudsucker Proxy is an extraordinary film from Joel and Ethan Coen. Featuring marvelous performances from Tim Robbins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Paul Newman, it’s a film that is very entertaining despite the fact that there’s more style than substance. Still, it is a joy to watch and never has a dull moment while not pretending to be this very extravagant period piece. In the end, The Hudsucker Proxy is an enjoyable film from the Coen Brothers.

Coen Brothers Films: Blood Simple - Raising Arizona - Miller's Crossing - Barton Fink - Fargo - The Big Lebowski - O Brother, Where Art Thou? - The Man Who Wasn’t There - Intolerable Cruelty - The Ladykillers (2004 film) - Paris Je T'aime-Tuileries - To Each His Own Cinema-World Cinema - No Country for Old Men - Burn After Reading - A Serious Man - True Grit (2010 film) - Inside Llewyn Davis - Hail, Caesar! - The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

The Auteurs #9: The Coen Brothers Pt. 1 - The Auteurs #9: The Coen Brothers Pt. 2

© thevoid99 2012