Eddie, a billiard player who has retired for many years, runs a billiards room. His decades of experience have made him well versed in the way to make money from gambling. At this time, he discovered the billiard wizard Vincent. Eddie decided to train the naive and reckless Vincent, so he and his girlfriend embarked on the road to Atlantic City competition.
From here, the film seems to have embarked on the routine of a road film. The three people rushed all the way to Atlantic City, and all the way they played, they all changed in different ways. Vincent began to learn to use a variety of strategies to defeat opponents and win more money; while Eddie also began to itchy in the process of educating the young man, and picked up the club again. Unexpectedly, Eddie, who had always been confident in himself, took up the club again and lost. Moreover, he failed miserably and lost without dignity. He was deeply distressed and left Vincent, leaving alone sadly.
From here on, the type of film turned to inspirational films. A frustrated person works hard and perseveres in order to find what he has lost. Old Eddie put on his glasses, restarted to practice his skills in the billiard room, and then rushed to Atlantic City to participate in the game. As he passed through the generals, he met Vincent.
At this time Vincent has become a skilled gambler who makes money by playing counterfeiting. Eddie looked at Vincent at this time with mixed sadness and joy, but he knew better that what Vincent was pursuing at this time was completely different from what he was pursuing now. In the subsequent match against Vincent, Eddie went all out and finally defeated Vincent. While he was rejoicing for his victory, while feeling a little embarrassed for defeating Vincent, Vincent sent him a large sum of money. It turns out that Vincent deliberately lost this game. What he pursues is not victory or dignity, but what Eddie taught him at the beginning is to pursue money.
Eddie stood by the semifinal table, hesitated for a moment, gave up the game, and then he stuffed the envelope with the money to Vincent on the sidelines. Vincent chased Eddie to a billiard room, and Eddie challenged Vincent again. Vincent decided to fight with all his strength. Old Eddie raised his club and struck out...
The last shot of the film was fixed on Eddie’s focused expression. As for the results of the two people’s game, there was no explanation here. Necessary. From the screenwriter’s point of view, it is indeed the best choice to end the whole film at this time. The game between two people at this time is not just a billiards game, but a duel of two different concepts, dignity and money, and the result In any case, it is estimated that Martin believes that justice is in the hearts of the people, and everyone will have their own choices in their hearts.
The actors in this film are actually very characteristic. Paul Newman's decades of experience, his acting skills are perfect, and he can be easily retracted. I just think that the Oscar judges only affirmed his acting skills so late; Liangtang was purely pure and innocent. It can be seen that it is the kind of star who has not been popular for long. Even the acting face can read a kind of shyness and excitement after becoming famous, but this kind of emotion happens to match the character image of Vincent. As for the character of Vincent’s girlfriend Carmen, I have always been a little puzzled. In fact, from the perspective of the screenwriter, the power of the two protagonists needs to be balanced, and from the perspective of ratings, there cannot be no women appearing in the film. So I designed a relationship clue for the two protagonists. Eddie’s girlfriend has been complaining that he did not have the opportunity to go to the Bahamas, and he appeared appropriately when Eddie was frustrated, and encouraged Eddie. These effects are very appropriate and sufficient. And this Carmen, I always feel that its existence is a bit redundant, that is, the character lacks changes. After accepting Eddie's concept from the middle of the film, the character of this woman has not progressed and continued to the end, looking pale. I wonder if this woman betrays Vincent at the back end, and Vincent is more paranoid about money, would it be better? This seems to add a tragic atmosphere to the final showdown. Just thinking about it.
For Martin's films, I have always admired the most. In fact, his lens use and editing skills are the best I have ever seen. This film also maintains a first-class standard. As a sports-themed, billiards movie, Martin's sound of hitting the ball, the shooting angle of each game, the movement of the lens, and the switching of scenes are so perfect and admirable. I think it is no exaggeration to say that Martin's work is definitely the best teaching material for learning lens use and editing.
Finally, I return to the theme of this film. "Color of money", what color is money? In fact, the theme of this story is very simple and very positive (I wonder if this film is today, except for deleting a few dew-point shots, it should be introduced to China for release). In today’s society, it seems boring and boring if you have to add any value judgments to your life choices, but I think no matter what, people have to pursue a little while alive, regardless of what you are pursuing, the most important thing is It's your kind of energy to work towards your goal. Regardless of the color of money, you can only see the color of money if you get the money through hard work.
I think of a line in the film, and put it here as the end:
"Sometimes you lose when you go up, but in fact you win."
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