anti climax

The first game was great 'cause it sets the movie and starts the movie off with a bang. From then on, and even in that first game it's all about Fast Eddie. So although the final game wasn't very climactic, it was emotionally, which is what the film makers were going for I think.

I believe this was done intentionally by the writers and The director of the movie. I agree, the first game between Fast Eddie and Minnesota Fats was great. But up until that point of the movie, that's all we really know about Eddie. He's a determined pool shark looking to be the best by beating the best. This set the stage for a great scene not to mention the great editing, lighting and overall feel of it.But upon the second match, there was so much revelation in Eddie's character that the game of pool seemed microscopic in the scheme of things. This was a man who, despite the outcome of the game already lost. We followed Eddie as he lost a seemingly important relationship with his partner Charlie, gotten both of his thumbs broken and worse, and witnessed the woman he loved commit suicide all in the name of the game he so called loved. Fast Eddie does indeed develop character as the movie progressed, not the type of character that Gordon mentions however.Eddie became aware of what was important, and he did this by accepting his defeat. He defeats Fats at the end but that's not what matters, the bigger victory is earned in him walking away from the vice the costs him so much. Doesn't hurt that he walked away the best, in fact it drives the point home even further.

I kind of felt that the last speech that Paul Newman gave ("You are the loser, you are dead inside!") was out of character for him. How on earth did he become so moralistic and eloquent all of the sudden? While previously he had said he couldn't even read the first chapter of a book.

Agreed.