What would a movie about pool look like to you?

I don't know why everyone thinks if a pool movie has anything about gambling in it, it's a bad thing!!!??? My pool movie would be about Johnston City and would have a few sub-plots about some of the main players in Johnston City to build the characters. The tourney in J.C. would actually be the climax of the movie and would tie the characters together in the end with the bulk of the movie being sort of the characters journey in life, leading up to the J.C. tournament. It would be a comedy/drama and a semi-fictional account, and have the cinematic look of "O Brother Where Art Thou" but of course not quite as old-timey. I also think George Clooney would be a great choice to play someone in one of the lead roles. You would have to have some top actors to make a movie like this work. There were plenty of characters at Johnston City, so it would seem the sky would be the limit as to what you could do with it.
 
chefdrew said:
Some of the more recent movies about pool or the up-coming 9ball the movie, which looks like some awful acting if you ask me, has not been something that would spark the interest of the masses out there.

Just curious, what are some thoughts on how a "billiard" movie could be made where it would actually get people interested in pool and increase the popularity of the sport?

I do not think that the tax evading money playing will ever be a real big winner here. What do you all think?
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i would have liked to see The real Color of Money made into a movie. I read the book and loved it. When the movie came out, well, it was one of th biggest disappointments of my life. I still say it sucked!
 
9bizzle said:
I don't know why everyone thinks if a pool movie has anything about gambling in it, it's a bad thing!!!???
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This is one of the most obnoxious parts of the sport, and drags it back to the 60's. This is one of the reasons people don't want to play, because the second you make 3 or 4 balls (yes balls, not racks) in a row someone thinks you have to gamble with them to play.

I used to date a nice girl from the Viking tour and we'd play for hours on end. I mean that girl could play, rack after rack. And she pushed me into playing my best; it was great. Of course there were a few people watching which didn't bother us until some jack wagon walks up with his penis envy difficulties and starts to try to hustle us with the standard, "so you guys think you can play... well I got a hundred a rack that says otherwise."

Most might say, "hey, easy money", but why is it no matter where you go, if you own a cue you're suddenly in a rooster fight? I can tell you why, this is the only image people have of pool. Yes, there's gambling in every sport but no where is it so prevalent as with pocket billiards. It's actually quite disgusting that even when you politely decline people's offers they have to make a scene? Or someone who loses says, "oh, I can only play good (sic) for money". Give me a break, if you could play as well as your mouth runs you'd be on a tour.

For the record, I didn't take his bet either. We left, the same as most new players do because it's rude and arrogant to pester people you don't even know. Funny though, this doesn't happen at the golf course; random people don't walk up to me and start woofing. And hey, weird, people can make a living playing golf! Holy crap. It's a sport for gentlemen; most courses won't let you on without a collar! And oddly enough, billiards was a gentleman's game until this view of gambling being required was the norm.

Drag what's left of the sport back out of the gutter and you might notice it becomes popular again.
 
Regarding gambling, I personally think a successful pool movie will have to have gambling in it. Any true excitement will come from the potential of someone making a giant score, and it would be unrealistic to portray that happening in a pool tournament. If you wanted to make a story about a great player struggling to pay the bills by playing in tournaments, you could just follow any touring pro around and make a documentary about him. I'd rather watch that than an unrealistic fictional story.

Aaron
 
The gambling / non gambling version pool movie. Great player who does not gamble (Ralf Soquet type) is the lead he works on his game in obscurity lives a simple life loves the game and is potentially the best in the world but unknown. Enter his new good looking woman who wants him to play to try his luck in the pro world. He goes to a tournament or two is surrounded by gambling he is above that by no he does not gamble etc, he shows the classic non gambling play ala Mosconi. Some gambling would be seen during the movie but ultimately the good guy unknown player would prevail at end of the big US Open type tourney. Clean living and positive outlooks along with a decent story line with some obstacles and drama could come together to make a good movie and have pool be seen as a positive for once on the big screen. End of movie he is aproached for sponsorship Rolex/Caddy/Corporate etc who said they always loved pool but were waiting for the right guy.......
 
9bizzle said:
I don't know why everyone thinks if a pool movie has anything about gambling in it, it's a bad thing!!!??? My pool movie would be about Johnston City and would have a few sub-plots about some of the main players in Johnston City to build the characters. The tourney in J.C. would actually be the climax of the movie and would tie the characters together in the end with the bulk of the movie being sort of the characters journey in life, leading up to the J.C. tournament. It would be a comedy/drama and a semi-fictional account, and have the cinematic look of "O Brother Where Art Thou" but of course not quite as old-timey. I also think George Clooney would be a great choice to play someone in one of the lead roles. You would have to have some top actors to make a movie like this work. There were plenty of characters at Johnston City, so it would seem the sky would be the limit as to what you could do with it.
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I like the idea... I would add to that to say; Johnston City needs a shot in the arm & one of the old timers tells City Counsel to resurrect the Pool Tournament for starters. The mayor contacts "Mr. Somebody" in the Pool World & the tournament is reborn (that brings everything to today's world). Mix in a few flashbacks, a little romance, some gambling up & downs & a HERO... Voila... a new Pool Movie..!
 
The only interest that will ever be generated will be at pool venues. You'll never see a pool movie like "9ball" in a theater, ever. It'll go straight to dvd > the "producer's suv > any pool venue he can find. It's the only way he'll ever see cash.
 
pool hall junkies re-made with out mars callahan as the lead.......it would of had a better review..........
 
tragedy

to me a good pool movie would be a tragedy. It's probably less accurate to say pool is a way of life than a way of death. It's a choice of lifestyle that is, well, you who know know what it is. Take Cliff Joyner, whose known more for his bite than his break. And he is a great player. to me personally, the cheating that is taken for granted, that is part of the game, would have to figure in the movie. I saw Cliff put a rack on that Korean player, that plays out of New York, in the case game, that will live in infamy along with Pearl Harbor. You have read about Scott Frost and some guy willing to lose 6 figures, and Scott and his partner putting "moisture" on the cue ball. Well, maybe it was moisture and maybe it was silicone. That type of "move" is supposed to draw a hearty laugh from the informed, like turning off the air conditioning - but really how funny is it? How low is it - the answer to the last question is that it is as low as you can go. So a good pool movie would be about the beauty of pool, the balls, the colors, the expertise, juxtaposed with the dizzying depths of degradation and complete absence of character, beginning at the bottom with guys like Jonathan Hennessee, and reaching up and up and up and up ....
 
The hustler brought the essence of a struggle with your own character or lack there of which anyone could relate to whether you're getting the pool backdrop and references or not. It didn't show very much in the way of shooting pool or the technical side but it brought people in with the lead characters plight.

The color of money did the same thing and got people interested in pool but sadly was no where as good as the book.

I feel for non-pool playing people, Pool hall junkies was just a hot mess of mostly characterless people with some bad acting of pool stereotypes with a few decent sort of funny parts mixed in which are a credit to Christopher Walken's talents. It wasn't going to draw anyone to pool that wasn't already taking part. I totally agree that the lead character cast did nothing for the movie. It was like watching the least attractive/ interesting part of pool, the meaningless woofing that most people here complain about. Ricky Schroeder as a pro/hustler..bad choice too. They might have done better with Ralph Macchio of the Karate kid. Shoot even a Karate kid styled pool movie might have worked better. Maybe it would have shown in more than 20 theaters across the US.

A completely technically correct movie about pool is only going to be interesting to the people that already play and seek to play at a higher level. If we want that, we have to create it for ourselves because Hollywood isn't going to do that.

I can't imagine anyone new to pool really liking listening to some of the stuff that gets discussed in great volumes on here. Imagine a pool movie about or even mentioning competing aiming systems or who's cue hits better or who's the best gambler. These all have limited appeal and the last one has been done to death in almost every gambling related subject. I think it's got to be about life, learning, the love of pool and growth for the main character. If family was involved it might even hit a wider group of people and of course if the main character has to come back from difficult situations all the better. People like to see an underdog come back and fight/struggle to be successful(Rocky series). Not the most intellectual movies but they hit on an emotional level and that means cash to Hollywood. This is the kind of movie that America will come out for.

People get into great stories about sports struggles, controversy and sports accomplishments but if you want the masses to get involved you have to show them something they can relate to on a personal level.

That's the kind of movie I'll want to take my son to and I'm sure more people would do the same.
 
This has been my idea or vision for a while. The movie needs to be mainstream and for pool players kind of "uncool". But mainstream america isnt into the real pool scene.

Characters--

Kid - 19-20 was a good kid but now is undecided and struggles with his parents especially with father. Smart but doesnt know what he wants to do so he runs with a slightly rougher group. Gets into trouble in movies beginning.

parents -- strugglling with kid... father works alot...

Neighbor-- kids all married and gone... the neighbors father comes from city to live with them in suburbia after wife passes. Played pool when younger and was a very good player but quit to raise family. One reason was that someone set him up with some bad information and he lost a bunch of their money.

female interest -- 20ish female .. father and 2 brothers all play pool well but they wont let her play. She doesnt care and plays anyway vowing to become a player.


First scene is a scene from 30s or 40s with some kids shown skipping school. they are running from teacher and finally get away right in front of pool room. Door opens and they look in. They look through window until yelled at. Next scene is one of the kids back again sneaking in and a guy yelling at him that if he was going to sneak in he has to help out. He is hooked.

Kid gets into some trouble and talking with parents. Father storms out and then mother says he has to help the neighbor move in her fathers things.
Kid finds pool cues, a trophy. Kid says he plays at the local places about 1 mile away.

Neighbors father shown walking and sees the pool room. Wanders in and before long he is a regular playing by himself and just hanging out. He sees the kid come in and his group. Also notices a young girl practicing alot by herself.
Notices that the kid is good but lays down in front of friends.

Kid disrespects Neighbors father in front of group. Apologizes seeing him at his house and asks about pool. Kids says he likes it but his friends think its just something to do. He saw that they didn't like it when he was good so he lays down. The man tells about his past as a player and how he was setup.

Kid sees the guy helping the girl. He secretly likes her and also wants to get better.
One night they all end up playing and the father helping. One night after the kid is getting better his group comes in and confronts him. He blows them both off and leaves.

Other guys in pool room see kids talent and try to get him into the gambling world. Take him to bars and other pool rooms gambling.
Neighbors father warns him.

Trouble, action, and fighting occurs and parents find out about pool. Neighbors father is blamed but he stands up for kid stating that theres good in pool even college scholarships for winning BCA junior like event.

Kid starts practicing with girl. Father eventually is helping them both out. The Kid is straightening out his life but still has a tough time with his own father. Mother sees change and is being supportive.

The kid enters a qualifying tournament for nationals and wins...so does girl.
The kid is doing well in nationals and father finally makes it to semis.


Its a typical disney or feegood story type with several characters and their issues.

There is a love interest as well as some gambling fighting scenes.

Needs to have a good young male lead and a good older character

Pool players would identify with losing friends over pool and being bitten by the "bug". Also the line between being a gambler and a tournament player.
 
9bizzle already touched on what I was thinking...


A pool movie that was Pulp Fictionish...
 
A plot mostly with a REAL hustler on the road with the characters to boot...

Think about all those guys out there trying to make a DIME just to break even.. The GOOD times (Womens.. VIP treatment... Steak and the finest shit!!) and also add the DOWN times.. NOT A PENNY left and playing against a WORLD BEATER to make it happen again!! THAT is the DRAMA people live for but you do have to make sure they all see the blood sweat and tears that lead up to these moments.. That TRUE life as a hustler and most would CHEER them on after seeing them fall KNOWING that they fell so hard from a point of huge success!!! The hieght would be when they defeat the uncertainty but in a Realistic approach to the game as us PLAYERS would know... NOt hollywood antics!!!

Life isnt fair and to even the greatest pool hustler this is true.. DRAMA is what sells because its whats make's money at the box office and you know why?? Most people can relate or cheer for the underdog with a heart the size of Alaska because thats how they feel.. The underdog that is lost but has the HUGEST heart to pull off an AMAZING win!!! The win to get them back in the poke so to speak!!!

You stick to that type of script matched with the right actors (PLAYERS) and you COULD see a highly peaked intrest in pool.. COLOR OF MONEY is the finest example to this in the highest order.
 
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The only pool movie ive seen recently that peaked my intrest was turn the river.... amazing in the fact that it was a WOMEN but she had a DRIVE ande a VISION to better a situation that was complete shit for her due to legality reasons... I may have to admit she may have deserved (as an actress) to be in this postion but you have to admit.... It was her heart and love for her only son (with an abusive ex husband) that made her go after EVERYTHING to get him back and THATS want made that movie awesome!!!!

Even though that movie ending was completely horrible ill tell you this... I loved it... I rather go down swinging making sure that i was happy no matter what my odds where.....

Funny but did anybody confirm her death in this movie??....

I smell a series :lol:
 
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