How did they do all the trick shots in this movie? Are the actors really that good or is something rigged. I find it hard to believe that Mike Rosenbaum and Ricky Shroeder are that good of pool players. Anyone know how?
Thanks in advance.
: )
Austin Burns
[email protected]
http://austin-burns.com
Well to tell you the truth most of those shots really are taken by the actors. The shots they got of them taking them reveals alot. But, through moviemagic it looks like it took them 1 shot when they were really there for hours until they got it right. Mars Callahan however is a really excellent pool player and most of his shots were made with no problem. I heard Walken did very well also.
shareThanks! I never knew those guys are that good! I figured the actors did most of them as there were very little cut scenes.
: )
Austin Burns
[email protected]
http://austin-burns.com
As per Willie Mosconi in Winning Pocket Billiards by Willie Mosconi, in The Hustler, you can always tell when a shot is made by the actor if there is no cut in the shot. This means that if you see the actor's face, and the camera pans to the balls, the actor is shooting the shot. If you see the actor's face, but then they -cut- to the balls, then someone (probably Mosconi) is shooting the shot. The probably holds true as well in this movie as it only makes sense. (Mosconi was the advisor in the hustler, and in PHJ, you can see his portrait in the pool hall... it's the old guy in the black and white picture. RIP to the real master... nothin' to this game at all.)
I can't really speak for the skills of the actors in this movie, but I can tell you two things for sure: One, that masse shot was not done by an actor, it was done by a real professional, after several takes. And two, that shot that first Walken, and then Calahan shot... where the cue banks off the oposing side to knock the object ball into the side pocket... that's a trick shot and it's not that hard. Here's how it works: Place the object ball on the first diamond next to the side pocket, then place the cue ball frozen up against it on the side of the object ball farthest from the target pocket. Shoot the cue ball at the side pocket on the other side of the table. And viola... the cue ball bounces off the other side, and knocks the object ball, which has conveniently stopped right in front of the side pocket. Every table is slightly different, but if you try it enough times, you will make it. So I'm sure they made that shot themselves after a dozen takes or so. The thing is, that shot will probably never ever come up in a real game of pool. At any rate, it's movie stuff... anyone who sees that as a legitimate shot can definitely 'make it again in a million years'... I wish someone would make a bet like that with me.
My biggest beef with this movie was not with the movie itself, but with the pool playing. Newman and Gleason were both phenomenal pool players in their own right. And you can see it in the movie. If you watch this film and look for the cuts, you can see that this is not the case here. Still, it's a joy to see those balls fly around like they do... I don't care who is making the shots.
some were done by Mike Massey (St. Louie Louis) who's famous for his trick shots.
shareNewman was not a phenomenal player although he apparently improved considerably during the shooting of the movie. Gleason however was known for having game and if you watch The Sting II you will see him making a bankshot or two.
Whenever I see a movie that has a pool scene in it I look to see if the person in the film took the shot or not. For instance the hardest shot in The Color of Money was a jumpshot in the big tournament and it was obvious that Cruise did not make that shot.
Where Trickshots are concerned I must say Color of Money had some nice ones. The cue-ball frozen to the cushion and the 8-ball frozen to the cue-ball at the foot of the table and the 9 on the same cushion as the cue-ball. Cueing overtop of the 8 to shoot the cue-ball against the rail making the 8 up table and leaving the cue-ball for the 9 on the same cushion. Beautiful shot but not all that hard if you know how it's done. Another being the one Forest Whittaker made where the 9 was frozen against the cushion, 8-ball frozen to the 9 and the cue-ball is fired into the 8 using a draw shot and on a real table and most of the time the 8-ball will make it's way into the side and the 9 will bank off the cushion and drop in the pocket down table. In the movie it's the same shot but somehow the 8 followed the 9 down table.
they shoulda got johnny archer to do some shots cause he looks a little like callahan.
--------------------------------http://www.dvdaficionado.com/dvds.html?cat=1&id=themangler
In a recent episode of Smallville, Michael Rosenbaum, is seen playing pool. I'm guessing he really is good as in the movie.
shareAlmost all movies or tv shows that feature pool trick shots have a professional pool advisor of some sort, who either shoots the shot or sets the shots up for the actor to shoot with a little instruction and possibly a lot of takes. There are some exceptions though. In the hustler Willie Mosconi was the advisor and shot many of the shots, though many were performed by the actors. Jackie Gleason was an exceptional player in his own right. while Paul Newman never played before getting the role, though as soon as he knew he was playing fast eddie spent a lot of time learning to play and conduct himself like a player and it shows, and having Mosconi around sure didn't hurt. Again with the color of money some were shot by the actors and some weren't. You have to realize these are staged shots , they didn't just present themselves in a game. Many so called trick shots are very simple to shoot, the trick is in the setup, and some look much harder than they really are. When possible if the shot can be made by the actor with a little instruction and expertise from a pro it is shot that way. If it proves too difficult the shot is made by the pro.Pool hall junkies was written and stars someone who is very familliar with the game and has ability to shoot most of his shots, which is pretty rare. Although I have to say that Rick Schroder, although a good actor, was not convincing as a pro level player. His demeanor and his stroke are not what you encounter in a pro. It was a bit distracting to see him walk around the table and shoot, his stroke is awful and you will not find an example of a real pro to compare it with. A little side note, the timing shot on the eight in the side pocket in Pool hall Junkies that Walken shoots was made by him on the first take. He was about to practice it and everyone expected to have numerous takes, ans Chritopher walken said why don't we film it just in case, and he made it on the first try!
share