Color of money... Lightning in a bottle.

Billiard Architect

Billiard Architect

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Silver Member
Was talking with the wife earlier today as I drove to a couple of defunct billiard stores. Does anyone realize what perfect timing that the release of COM was. It was just before the internet and video game boom. With all of the mindless rehash that Hollywood puts out and the short attention span of the 20 somethings today I don't think a movie like COM could ever do as much or as well. But then again I am sure that someone like me said the same about The Hustler before Color was released.

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COM Continues

New Tom Cruise Pool Movie - 06-07-2017, 08:40 PM

Tom could play the same character as in Color of Money but in the present time 2020.

The movie could show the decline of pool rooms, bowling alleys, drive-in's and western civilization into what it is present day.

A reflection of America and what it stood for once.

Sort of like the movie "Bar Fly". I loved it's upbeat look at life.
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/barfly-1987

In a another thread;

TCOM sequel with Tom Cruise's character transformed by the years into an Earl Strickland type. Redemption story with Vincent developing character and ending up on the Mosconi Cup team and leading the US to victory after a 10 year drought.

Bonus if there's a deleted scene on the DVD with Tom Cruise wearing a beekeeper outfit.
------------------------------
Pool Movie Ideas
See this link: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=454313
 
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Johnny "V" said:
Was talking with the wife earlier today as I drove to a couple of defunct billiard stores. Does anyone realize what perfect timing that the release of COM was. It was just before the internet and video game boom. With all of the mindless rehash that Hollywood puts out and the short attention span of the 20 somethings today I don't think a movie like COM could ever do as much or as well. But then again I am sure that someone like me said the same about The Hustler before Color was released.

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Click to expand...

It was also during the fast rising APA Bush league that led to pool hall opening instead of closing


9
 
I have always thought that taking a piece of history like the Johnston City pool tournament and getting some good directing and actors would have a chance.

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mchnhed said:
Most of the true growth of pool came after the publication of the world famous book......

"A Beginners Guide to 8 Ball Pool" Written by Pool Killers
https://issuu.com/poolkillers81/docs/a_beginner_s_guide_to_8_ball_pool

Also see:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=283041&highlight=PoolKiller
Click to expand...
Oh GD! I hate taking extended periods of time off and missing classics like that. Thanks for catching me up! That's awesome....

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Johnny "V" said:
Was talking with the wife earlier today as I drove to a couple of defunct billiard stores. Does anyone realize what perfect timing that the release of COM was. It was just before the internet and video game boom. With all of the mindless rehash that Hollywood puts out and the short attention span of the 20 somethings today I don't think a movie like COM could ever do as much or as well. But then again I am sure that someone like me said the same about The Hustler before Color was released.

Sent from my SM-G925T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Well, I hate to break it to you, but you're heavily romanticizing :smile:

"Just before the Internet" ... I had access to the Internet probably in 1995 or 1996 and I was one of the earlier ones. The first careless and fast Internet access for all employees was at the big swedish company I was working for in 1999. So your "just" is close to 9 years, a decade!

As for video games, they were already very popular in 1986, and have ever been from then on. Doom was immensely popular from 1993 on on a quite normal PC with amazing graphics and gameplay. From there it took off, with also consoles rising to popularity even for "normal" households.

Color of money per se we've discussed numerous times. It actually is not a "good money" in any classical sense. It did hit the 80s sense and sentiment, though.
Tom Cruises acting was dumb and just over the top, the character being obnoxious and one-sided, and just that silly hairdo. Paul Newmann was good, but all to serious and bitter.

In my opinion the end is just lazy, not interesting or a true open one. As if playing a game of billard could even decide any conflict or whatever in your life :rolleyes:
I'd just give him a good whipping in the end and be done with it.

Now, Forrest Whitaker's character and acting was something to look out for: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBvyB2dTnlQ

I'm actually glad the billard places are gone. It means people have something meaningful to do finally!

And if I'm seeing another unnecessary cool closed bridge or digging-a-hole-chalking I'm gonna puke.

Cheers!
 
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M.G. said:
... "Just before the Internet" ... I had access to the Internet probably in 1995 or 1996 and I was one of the earlier ones. ...
Click to expand...
Some would consider Usenet as the start of the Internet, which was about 15 years earlier (1980-81) but it was non-commercial. I think I started reading newsgroups about 1981. The first commercial ISPs started in 1989. The World Wide Web started in 1991. In 1993 AOL added Usenet to its features which was the end of civility there. I also remember using Mosaic around 1993.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Some would consider Usenet as the start of the Internet, which was about 15 years earlier (1980-81) but it was non-commercial. I think I started reading newsgroups about 1981. The first commercial ISPs started in 1989. The World Wide Web started in 1991. In 1993 AOL added Usenet to its features which was the end of civility there. I also remember using Mosaic around 1993.
Click to expand...
I was on portal communications in 92 out of Cupertino. I was using Archie and veronica then if I remember correctly

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A predecessor of Internet forums were the BBS's (Bulletin Board System). I was active on several in Houston starting in 1982. Very similar to AZB forums, but only 1 or 2 people could be on at a time. The owner was called a SysOp and if his 1 or 2 modem lines were busy, you set up an autodialer and waited. The were not pool related; I used them to discuss computer games.


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I loved BBS's! I had a war dialer that would scour phone numbers while I was at work. When I got home I would spend hours reconnecting to modems it found. I started out on a 300 baud and thought I was a GOD when I bought a Prometheus 9600 baud used for $700 in '89. Hey it was the only way to connect to Elite boards back then. But I still wish I had that money today :)

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Johnny "V" said:
Was talking with the wife earlier today as I drove to a couple of defunct billiard stores. Does anyone realize what perfect timing that the release of COM was. It was just before the internet and video game boom. With all of the mindless rehash that Hollywood puts out and the short attention span of the 20 somethings today I don't think a movie like COM could ever do as much or as well. But then again I am sure that someone like me said the same about The Hustler before Color was released.

Sent from my SM-G925T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

It was right place and right time. Nothing new, remember "Saturday night fever". Everybody was disco dancing for a couple of years. Then "Urban cowboy" and every idiot was warning a cowboy hat. For the general public, COM was little more then that.

They would not make another COM anymore then another "Urban Cowboy". I could not in my widlest dreams see anyone dumping millions into a movie about pool. COM had Paul Newman and the hook of the Hustler along with Tom Cruse as a draw as well.

I watched a movie last night I had never heard of with Al Pacino called "Danny Collins". It was actually pretty good. I looked it up and it had a budget of around 10 million. It opened with receipts of 70 thousand. To date has not even grossed 5 million.
Making movies can be very risky even with a big name.

By the way, if you see Danny Collins on cable check it out. It I believe is on Starz right now.
Either way don't hold your breath waiting for another movie about pool. At best maybe a buddy comedy about two pool players on the road may work or who own a pool room with a bunch or crazy characters around would work. Anything serious about pool would be a disaster I am sure.

There are a lot more things "WAY more popular then pool and they don't make movies about them. But then again take a movie like "Used Cars" or "Carwash". In the comedy realm almost any subject matter will work if done well.
 
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mchnhed said:
New Tom Cruise Pool Movie - 06-07-2017, 08:40 PM

Tom could play the same character as in Color of Money but in the present time 2020.

The movie could show the decline of pool rooms, bowling alleys, drive-in's and western civilization into what it is present day.

A reflection of America and what it stood for once.

Sort of like the movie "Bar Fly". I loved it's upbeat look at life.
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/barfly-1987

In a another thread;

TCOM sequel with Tom Cruise's character transformed by the years into an Earl Strickland type. Redemption story with Vincent developing character and ending up on the Mosconi Cup team and leading the US to victory after a 10 year drought.

Bonus if there's a deleted scene on the DVD with Tom Cruise wearing a beekeeper outfit.
------------------------------
Pool Movie Ideas
See this link: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=454313
Click to expand...

The movie "Barfly" it seems had a budget of 3 million and a total gross of 3,200,000.00. It probably didn't make enough to cover advertising.
 
middleofnowhere said:
The movie "Barfly" it seems had a budget of 3 million and a total gross of 3,200,000.00. It probably didn't make enough to cover advertising.
Click to expand...

No, but it employed all the people connected to the production and provided a tax write off later.

Video games are the money makers today.
:idea::idea::idea:
Grand Theft Billiards

Drive across the country hustling, stealing, fighting.
 
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