Love/Hate movie. I would bet that if we posted 2 polls asking whether you liked the movie and what your age is we would probably see some simularities. Younger people of today need the 5 minute chase scene in the beginning of the movie. The GTA Generation can't handle the develoment or at least the attempt of generating char's.
One of my favorite movies is Thief (1982, James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Jim Belushi) and many people my age (40ish) like the movie because it really was one the first of its type. (Michael Mann who directed it got the idea for Miami Vice from it) Anyway show it to a GTAGen and they say "Eh, so whats the point?"
I think it was a nice change from the typical seedy I am going to f' you before you f' me type of pool movie.
I still say that if the industry wanted to make a ton of money they should focus on how we all got hooked into the game/sport. Have them invest in a movie with a Karate Kid (without a corny Ralph Machio char) type movie. A movie based on a kid that is interested in pool and starts to hang out in a place. Gets better by watching or getting to know some of the better players (more char development). Build on that into tournaments and the thill of competition. Throw in a Hal Houle char to teach the kid the right and wrong with the world of hustling (couple of ass kickings from the local hustler who ends up meeting him in the final amature match that is the cross roads in the kids life between mediocraty or professional status). Pepper in some wholesome family values with a dark underbelly of a disfunctional family (so the degenerates can relate) and the peer pressure of drugs, babes and gangs. Would have been great to get leanardo D to play the part of the kid a few years ago but I am sure nick or disney is full of teen heartthrobs that could take his place. Have a huge casting party afterwards and send some hookers to the movie reviewers and blammo... Billiards is back on top again.
Something upbeat like Saturday night fever meets Karate Kid.
Who wants to pay me to write it???