maybe I'm missing something but to me the last shot Johnny paid to take didn't make any sense... if the shot truly was impossible to make than why didn't Johnny just let Brad take it (and miss it, obviously) ??
Am I missing something here..?
He took the shot himself so he could set himself up. He knew he probably wouldn't make it, but it'd be damn close. So the following shot would be really easy. If the other guy shot it, it wouldn't have been set up as nicely and therefore not as easy of a shot. Plus he did it to show Joe that he could "out-hustle" him at his own game.
shareHe could have taken it to set himself up, as to prevent Brad from playing safe on him, and if by chance he did make it (no shot is impossible), then he won anyway. However, he could have very easily left a tough shot for himself. The smartest thing to do would have been to make Brad take the shot. I thought this hustle was pretty ridiculous, but the writers wanted to show that Johnny was more of a "hustler" than a tournament player. In fact, a lot of the shots in the movie were ridiculous: avoiding easy cuts to make the harder (but more impressive looking) bank shots, shooting one handed in a $20,000 game, etc.
shareI understand what you're trying to say and I do agree that they're making Johnny look more like a hustler than a professional player, but I disagree that it was wiser to let Brad take the shot (also because the hustle was indeed ridiculous and the only reason Johnny got away with is because his friends came to his aid *unexpectedly*) because the balls were touching one another which would have made it almost impossible to get safe from that position, also, if Brad had taken the offensive approach and tried to pocket the ball he probably would have left an easy shot for Johnny...
It just leads me to think that you are right that were making Johnny look like a true hustler, it makes sense to me now...
Thanks for u thoughts..
I think he did that because he was proving he really was a hustler AT HEART..even though he does go pro..his true love was in the HUSTLE...
"I'll have whats shes having"
I thought the last scene was spectacular. All knit picking about who should've done what & when put aside I thought it was a refreshingly original way to end a movie. I really didn't know what was going to happen (which is very rare for a sports movie). I was so taken by surprise that it had me on my feet clapping hands my together and laughing out loud. I thought it was a very entertaining piece of film making.
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I always thought the writers threw it in to show that Johnny doesn't need Joe, and Joe doesn't control Johnny; he has tricks that Joe doesn't know about.
Plus, it gave low hustlers all across the country an angle to work.
I only play pool casually, but that whole "I just paid 5K for his shot, and now its my shot" line was awesome, that was completely terrific.
shareThis shot was based on an old hustle that the exhibition players show off from time to time. The normal response to the bet is to miss badly as you suggest and then remind the person that "now it's my turn." It was done this way in the film merely to heighten the suspense.
shareAlso, if you watch throughout the movie, they're always making stupid bets with each other, like hustling.
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Being a pro dosent mean you know the art of the Hustle.
Brad seemed really green to the pool hustle anyways just starting to hang out in pool halls. Joe had only seen him a few times, once in pro's when the Brad character is first introduced. Obviously Joe needs a new pony after Johnny leaves so Joe decides to take on Brad. Who he see's as a better player.
Simply stated it was because Brad would have shot for a "leave" trying to make Johnny's shot impossible. By buying the shot Johnny was able to set it up for himself.
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