Predictable but dull

Rating: 5/10 (3 March 2005)

Scorsese's film wasn't a masterpiece like "Goodfellas, Raging Bull, and Taxi Driver". It started out as good as Fast Eddie(Paul Newman)is now making a living as a liquor salesman who sees a talented but cocky but lovable kid in Vincent Lauria(Tom Cruise in a rare supporting role). Eddie then takes a liking to Vincent and his street-smart ex-con girlfriend Carmen(Mary Elizabeth Mastrontonio who should had been or still could be a much bigger star despite her talents) to dinner and then they take a liking to him. Eddie visits Vincent at his dead end job as a toy store clerk to go on the road with him. He is reluctant but seemingly through his girlfriend, he does as Eddie gives him a new pool stick. They go on the road for Vincent to get experience as a pool player playing against tough opponents. Then Eddie splits up with Vincent & his girlfriend for them to grow up and for Vincent to become a more better pool player without Eddie's help as he runs out of advice as well as ideas. Eddie then gets back in the game that he starts out slow but then he becomes more of the younger Eddie he was before. In the end, he and Vincent, who seems more grown-up and a better pool player without Eddie, face off against one another. With three stars it should had been good. But then it fell apart in the end with the three parting ways making it more dull.