MovieChat Forums > The Color of Money (1986) Discussion > Say what you like about Cruise...

Say what you like about Cruise...

posted 12 years ago by davey_havok
11 replies | jump to latest

I know this film isn't regarded as among Scorsese's best, and that Tom Cruise has now essentially fallen off of the planet of reality, but every time i think about this film... That damn scene is so great.

Werewolves of London playing in the background, that one long swooping take as the camera ducks and dives around Tom showboating and flailing the cue around. It's one of the absolute all time great scenes that i remember.
And his acting in it really is spot on, a great performance... Who ever could imagine anything remotely as good from him now.
I guess it shows it is true that Scorsese always manages to coax out the great performances in actors

As Wichita falls... so falls Wichita Falls

[–] rogiervanlokven 12 years ago

LOL! Its a good scene indeed! Seeing Tom Cruise owning that guy is hilarious....especially his karate moves with the cue! The music totally fits.

It totally reveals how his character is....playful and always wanting to win and not listening to others (his mentor, Eddie). Epic, epic scene!

[–] There_Is_No_Sayid 12 years ago

Cruise is awesome in this. I think people should rewatch films like this to remind themselves of why Cruise is such a huge star. Before he became a parody of himself the guy had charisma coming out of his ass.

"Unless Alpert's covered in bacon grease, I don't think Hugo can track anything."

[–] DracTarashV 12 years ago

One of the first things that comes to mind whenever I think about this film, is that scene exactly. It's fantastic.

With repeated views, I feel Tom really stole several of his scenes - and Newman was sensational all throughout the film, but Cruise lit up the screen in his pool scenes. And personally, I believe this IS one of Scorsese's best.

The prostitution rests. - Kelly Bundy

[–] capablecarl 12 years ago

He could have quit after Risky Business. It was his best performance. He was absolutely great.

I thought he was almost as good in C.O.M though, and the "werewolves" scene was maybe one of the top 5 scenes in movies IMO.

I've really kind of hated him in everything else because of his tendency to overact.

[–] Howlin Wolf 11 years ago

He's still capable of it. You don't lose your acting talent, and his acting talent has nothing to do with how crazy he might be.

"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

[–] rscott24 11 years ago

He does still have it. I don't know if he is trying to prove he's not old but all the action movies are just a waste of time. If he had another Magnolia like performance people would forget all about his weirdness. And yes that scene is a classic. I was obsessed with shooting pool when I was in my early teens as well as obsessed with this movie. His whole performance was amazing, the way he transformed from a playful, naive, young pool hall kid to a cold calculating big time hustler was very convincing.

[–] oh_no_mrbill 11 years ago

I love his performance in this movie, particularly in that scene. You can easily tell why he is a superstar. He's one of the most charismatic actors in Hollywood. Not to mention, it was probably the best use of Werewolves of London in movie history.

[–] pcf9909 11 years ago

The werewolves of London scene would have been more impressive if Scorcese didn't tilt the camera up after every shot to cover up the ball missing and the PA reaching out to pull it off the table. Go watch the scene again. You never see the majority of the shots go in.

[–] zee944 10 years ago

Interesting. He didn't impress me in this movie.

Who ever could imagine anything remotely as good from him now.

Are you for real? He got much better in the nineties, and pulled of much better performances in several movies.

[–] MonteCarloMan 9 years ago

He was a bit too rough around the edges with his performance but to date "The Color of Money" is the only Cruise film I own.

[–] 9 years ago

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