I recently up'd this from 8 to 9, and here's a few reasons why...

Rating: 9/10 (18 April 2012)

I was flipping through the HD movie channels on the guide the other day and saw that "The Color of Money" was about to start. It's a movie I have probably seen 10 times or more, but I hadn't seen it in about a decade.
It didn't take long for me to remember all the reasons I love(d) this movie.
The first thing that stood out immediately were the opening credits and the opening scene. Robbie Robertson's music is hypnotizing. It fits the dreary bar and poolhall's like musty smoke and old hardwood. It's not just his music either - ALL the music in this movie is fantastic and strategically placed.
Fast Eddie Felson(Newman) notices Vince right away, "that kids got a sledge-hammer break".
Paul Newman is FANTASTIC in this movie. The writing, the music, the acting - all superb.
Those who never saw "the Hustler" can appreciate this film on it's own, but some of the subtleties and references to Fast Eddie Felson carry a little more weight(as does the ending) if you have. We don't need an explanation of what happened to Fast Eddie Felson from 1961 to 1985(we get the idea), but I think the entire meaning of this film is lost if the viewer doesn't understand the arc of Paul Newman's character from the ending of "the Hustler" to the ending of "the Color of Money". I think the single biggest reason that this film is scored where it is - is that the ending of this film is rather abrupt and anti-climactic. For that matter, so was the ending from "The Hustler", but "the Hustler" doesn't appear to suffer from it on IMDb. Another reason may be because of Tom Cruise. Cruise is amazing here, but Cruise has become the "Dallas Cowboy" of acting. The actor we love to hate. A lot of people snarl or misjudge a film solely because it stars Tom Cruise. The character of Vince is just as easy to dislike.
Just the fact that MI4:Ghost Protocol is scored higher on this website makes me cringe.
I don't think there was a better person for the role. One of my favorite lines of the film is when Eddie says, "Don't change the shirt - it's a nice touch".... or earlier when he says, "you've got the flake, you've got that down pat, but can you flake on and flake off, I don't know". The dialog here is superbly written and each actor is perfectly cast.
Eddie sees Vince as an opportunity. An opportunity to make money? Yes, but more like an opportunity to pick up where he(Eddie) left off so many years ago, when he was 'put out of the business' so-to-speak.
I just want this movie to keep going.
Each character is well-developed. John Turturro is great, and there are other strong supporting roles from a few lesser-known but no less talented actors like Helen Shaver and Bill Cobbs.
The shots in and around the poolhalls reek of realism, and all the betting and play is choreographed expertly.
While the ending is abrupt - it contains a nice little twist that is extremely effective and really dials into the meaning of this film.
Is this better than "The Hustler"? No. Is it better than the 6.8 ranking here? Heck yea it is! I think that some people forget that this really is a sequel. How many films do this? Create a sequel 25 years later? An effective one at that? Anyone that has seen "the Hustler" and "the Color of Money" leaves this film with a really good idea of what happened to Fast Eddie over the last 25 years, and the next 25 to come.
Bill Cobbs(Orvis) says, "Do you know who you have stake-horsing here for you - this here's Fast Eddie Felson". You almost have to see "the Hustler" to have a true appreciation and under-standing of "The Color of Money".
UNDERRATED!
87/100
There's also a few shots in here that are absolutely mesmerzing - the kind you have to wonder how in the heck Martin pulled them off.