Factual error: Cruise is breaking and if you watch the eight ball after the break it's following the 5 into a pocket at the end of the table closest to Tom. Now the 8 ball didn't necessarily go in because they focus on the one ball, but in the next frame shot, there's no way it could be at the opposite end of the table like they show. (00:29:20)
The Color of Money (1986)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Tom Cruise, Paul Newman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver
Continuity mistake: At the very start of the tournament, when we see all the platters break at the same time (wide shot showing all tables), we see Eddie's table is second from the left and three tables up. Notice the referee one table behind Eddie. In the close shot after the break, we now see that the referee, who was standing still in the wide shot, is now a table further down.
Revealing mistake: When Paul Newman is playing in the tournament near the end after Tom Cruise humiliates him by dumping the game, Newman lines up to shoot the 2 ball. The point of view shot shows his detailed reflection on the ball's surface. If you look closely at the bottom right side of the ball, you can see that the "reflection" of his shirt exceeds the outside boundary of the ball.
Trivia: Paul Newman won his only Oscar for his performance as Fast Eddie Felson in this movie.
Trivia: In one scene, Eddie comments that it's been 25 years since he played pool professionally. Paul Newman last played Felson in The Hustler, 25 years earlier.
Eddie Felson: Do you smell that?
Vincent Lauria: What, smoke?
Carmen: No, Money.
Eddie Felson: The balls roll funny for everybody, kiddo.
Carmen: You really think Vincent's that good?
Eddie Felson: Well, he's got the eye, he's got the stroke, he's got the flake... he's got the flake down cold. But can he flake on and flake off? I don't know. That's not clear.
Question: I'm really confused by Eddie's behaviour. Why did he suddenly decide to abandon Vincent and Carmen. And why couldn't he just take the money at the end (and maybe give it to charity if he didn't want it as Carmen suggested). Why did he unnecessarily have to turn it into an issue with Vincent?
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Answer: Because it wasn't about the money or a personal issue with Vincent. Eddie had a sudden realization about his own integrity and what he was doing (helping to rig games' outcome to skew betting odds). He wanted to win legitimately against Vincent. Earlier, he had become rather fed up with Vincent's egotistical nature and arrogance, which led to them parting ways.
raywest ★