Fast Eddie lives!

Rating: 6/10 (23 December 2003)

You know, as a young boy, I was not allowed to watch "The Hustler" for obvious reasons. The life that Newman led as "Fast Eddie" Felsen took a turn of events that was not suitable for children.
But, as an adult and a fan of Tom Cruise (sort of), I found "The Hustler" on cable one night and watched it after seeing "The Color of Money" years ago in theaters. To re-create a role after so many years does take talent! And Newman is loaded with it!
Eddie is a liquor vendor, pushing his wares in bars and pool halls. When he meets Cruise, his blood starts to boil for the pool table like it did so many years ago until Minnesota Fats put him away. Through Cruise's girlfriend (Mastrantonio), Newman convinces Cruise to go out and make a living off shooting pool and hustling people. The only problem is that Cruise does not want to hustle people, he just wants to win...
This film takes a few twists and turns that were kind of unexpected. The relationship between Newman and Mastrantonio was a rarely-found touch because of the different styles of the actors, themselves. Cruise, sometimes, it seemed, was left out in the dark, playing someone who had no idea what it was all about until someone had to take a baseball bat and beat it into his head.
Overall, I gave this movie a six, because, although it was a good movie, there was not much to it. When I was younger, I hardly got what Newman was trying to get across, but now I'm a little older and I realize that it was not about pool, it was about money.
The only thing I now find myself hoping for is that Cruise does not come out in 15 years and even attempt to put himself in Newman's shoes, trying to pass on his knowledge, because, in my mind, he didn't learn a thing!