1986 Paul Newman's Fast Eddie's Comeback for an Oscar
With the direction of Martin Scorsese, Paul Newman reprises his Fast Eddie Felson character from the 1962 Oscar winner, "The Hustler." In 2008, a day after Newman's death, "Hustler's" in all top 100 lists of classics. Perhaps the finest sequel performance by a lead actor, Newman earns his 8th Best Actor Oscar nomination & 1st win in 1987 for his performance in "The Color of $."
Fast Eddie's been forced by mobsters to leave the pool hustling circuit in 1961's "Hustler." Fast forward 25 years to 1986 & the aged Fast Eddie's (Paul Newman at 61yo) a liquor salesman hanging out in urban pool halls reflecting upon what he might have become. Enter Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise), who catches Eddie's attention with his 'sledge-hammer break' & familiar 'cock-sure' attitude. Make them a trio with Vincent's conniving girlfriend, Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio).
These 3 characters convey complexities of any triangulation. Eddie's eager to be back in the hustle & Vincent gives him good enough reason to do so. Eddie takes Vincent & Carmen on an eye-opening journey throughout the US pool hall circuit teaching Vincent how to hustle. Vincent's a quick study & reminds Eddie of his younger self. He becomes nostalgic while touring with his protege. But, this time, Eddie's in the game for a fat percentage of Vincent's winnings.
During the time Eddie spent observing pool hustler's while doing his tour of liquor sales, he became more shrewd as a hustler then he was as a player. Because 25 years have actually passed since both Newman & his character were in "Hustler," there's no need to use make up to age Newman. Time's made the older Eddie more real. Newman's acting skill has aged like fine wine. A master actor is playing a master hustler. Although Newman credits Cruise for recapturing the essence of younger Fast Eddie as Vincent, I disagree, viewing Newman's blessing as graciously generous. There's only 1 Fast Eddie Felson, younger & older version: Paul Newman's.
While fine supporting casts make both "Hustler" & "Color of $" complexly engaging, both films are Newman's. Scorsese's direction focuses more upon the art of the sport of pool playing. Film shots of cue sticks, pool balls & tables, as well as the gritty atmosphere of the noirish pool halls, bear Scorsese's trademark keen senses of visualization. So much so, the smoke-filled halls are nearly smelled!
Interestingly, Newman had been nominated 7 times for Best Actor Oscars before winning his 1st, in 1987, for this role. However, the AFI had wisely chosen, in 1986, to award Newman an Honorary Oscar. Thus, this was actually his 2nd. Newman's 3rd Oscar is perhaps the 1 he may well be best remembered for deserving more than any other: 1994's prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Newman's political & charitable contributions to society are especially significant. "Butch Cassidy's" outlaw gang was called, "The hole in the wall gang." Newman named the organization he founded, a camp for children with cancer & blood disorders (and their parents), a place they could come for extended outdoor retreats for free, "The Hole in the Wall Gang." The organic food chain, "Newman's Own," led by daughter Nell, donates all of its profits to charitable organizations (over a quarter of a million $ by now). A devoted father & grandfather, this year he & Joanne Woodward celebrated their 50th anniversary of marriage. Here's to the spirit of a man who successfully became much more than a great actor~Read full review
