Another Loser from Martin Scorsese

Rating: 1/10 (12 July 2006)

Robert Rossen's 1961 classic THE HUSTLER might have been followed by a worthy sequel considering that 25 years later Paul Newman was there to once again play Fast Eddie Felsen. Unfortunately, Scorsese, Hollywood's most overrated director, is no Robert Rossen and in the same sense as sandlot kids playing let's pretend New York Yankees, Scorsese has no skills adequate to the task. This film was mildly amusing, had a fair run, and was quickly forgotten. This review was prompted by my having seen a revival of THE HUSTLER on TV and remembering just how lame this sequel was. A classic from 1961 is still revived and scores a 10, a rip-off sequel from 1986 doesn't even rate a tombstone.