This is one of those rare movies that grows on me after multiple viewings. Being an avid pool player, and holding movies like "The Hustler" (and to a lesser extent) "The Color of Money" as the all time pool classics, I didn't even pay mind to this movie until eight years after its release. And with that said, it keeps the tradition of pool hall hustling and gambling alive for Generation Xers and Yers.
I admit upon first viewing there were too many distracting flaws that overwhelmed my ability to enjoy it. However, once I was able to look past its inconsistencies and get to the essence of the story and the characters, I found it to be an energetic and inspired work with some great (however small) performances by Rick Schroder, Chazz Palimenteri, Christopher Walken, and the late, great, Rod Steiger.
There is no doubt that die hard pool aficionados will find the game sequences to be outlandish and exaggerated. But if I recall, so were many of the scenes in "The Hustler" and "The Color of Money". After all, this is an action movie glorifying pocket billiards. It's not an instructional video.
Whether or not you really love the game of pool, the art of hustling, the risk of high stakes gambling, and the resulting camaraderie that hanging around a pool hall can bring, give this movie a try or two. I think you'll ultimately enjoy it.
I admit upon first viewing there were too many distracting flaws that overwhelmed my ability to enjoy it. However, once I was able to look past its inconsistencies and get to the essence of the story and the characters, I found it to be an energetic and inspired work with some great (however small) performances by Rick Schroder, Chazz Palimenteri, Christopher Walken, and the late, great, Rod Steiger.
There is no doubt that die hard pool aficionados will find the game sequences to be outlandish and exaggerated. But if I recall, so were many of the scenes in "The Hustler" and "The Color of Money". After all, this is an action movie glorifying pocket billiards. It's not an instructional video.
Whether or not you really love the game of pool, the art of hustling, the risk of high stakes gambling, and the resulting camaraderie that hanging around a pool hall can bring, give this movie a try or two. I think you'll ultimately enjoy it.