9: The Color Of Money

This week, we invent the legacyquel with Martin Scorsese’s 1986 movie The Color Of Money. How does Tom Cruise match up against the legendary Paul Newman? Does Scorsese’s technical excellence leave space for narrative and theme? Is Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio the smartest female lead we’ve seen so far?

Content warning: physical assault

Unanswered Questions:

  • Is there a secret hustle happening through the course of the film?
  • Is the allegation that Martin Scorsese has little to say about or to women a valid criticism of this film, or of his work in general?
  • What do we make of Eddie’s arc? Does it effectively mirror the way that Vincent changes?

Further reading:

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Join us next time as we see Cruise’s movie-star persona turned to eleven in Roger Donaldson’s 1988 romantic comedy Cocktail.


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