Which is better: TCOM or THE HUSTLER
- Thread starter 9 ball
- Start date
a clear progression
There is a clear progression both in movies and viewers. For the next "pool movie" to have widespread appeal it will have to have crude humor, graphic sex, lots of shooting guns full auto preferred, and at least a few explosions.
Today's typical movies are little more than a live action comic book. Yesterday's better movies were like finely crafted books. I loved comics when I was a kid but I also read the classics. There isn't any comparison.
Hu
There is a clear progression both in movies and viewers. For the next "pool movie" to have widespread appeal it will have to have crude humor, graphic sex, lots of shooting guns full auto preferred, and at least a few explosions.
Today's typical movies are little more than a live action comic book. Yesterday's better movies were like finely crafted books. I loved comics when I was a kid but I also read the classics. There isn't any comparison.
Hu
ShootingArts said:
Ah, the glory days...I have yet to see a movie that was even close to a finely crafted book. That is the reason for my liking of movies like There's Something About Mary...those visuals would be tough to beat on written page. The CLASSIC movies like, say, Gone With the Wind were trying to hard to be cinematic novels. I'm not saying that some of the movies weren't very well acted, directed, produced, etc., but isn't the book always better. Even something suspenseful like Silence of the Lambs...BEAUTIFULLY done, and acted out about as well as anyone coulda done - the book had me much more riveted (imagination when reading can do that). ----accidental rant---- OOOPS
I put on both movies while I'm practicing in my basement. In my opinion every single line in the Hustler was delivered perfectly by every single actor. The acting and who ever directed it was genious. George C Scott was a scene stealer. The Hustler is my all time favorite movie. I like the Color of money a lot but it was not perfect whereas the Hustler WAS perfect.
I'm going with the hustler even tho I'm younger and identify more with tcom. The hustler had more atmosphere and it's more interesting to me to see a time and place I never lived through vs. stuff I have (or could have) seen in my lifetime.
I think acting-wise it's actually even, or even a little edge to tcom.
I know that sounds crazy, we don't want to give the somewhat cheesier movie about 9 ball (with a certifiable nutbag like tom cruise as the hero)... some kind of edge over the elegant black and white classic with the well-respected paul newman. But older movies from that era just seem to have overly dramatic dialogue and delivery that seems fake. I think that was just the style of film back then. Or maybe people really did talk like that and I just missed it.
Look at the scene where sarah goes on about how "I made you up, didn't I, Eddie? You weren't real. I made you up, like everything else."
I just can't imagine real people talking this way. Most of the dialogue is fine but some of the dramatic monologues seem a bit forced.
But carmen making a comment like "if you win one more game you're gonna be humping your fist for a long time" I can identify with. And not a single line ever jumped out at me and said "who talks like this?!"
Older movies feel almost like the dialogue and acting is straight from a good broadway stage, and then filmed. More modern movies just seem real. It could be entirely a generation gap thing but I dunno...
I think acting-wise it's actually even, or even a little edge to tcom.
I know that sounds crazy, we don't want to give the somewhat cheesier movie about 9 ball (with a certifiable nutbag like tom cruise as the hero)... some kind of edge over the elegant black and white classic with the well-respected paul newman. But older movies from that era just seem to have overly dramatic dialogue and delivery that seems fake. I think that was just the style of film back then. Or maybe people really did talk like that and I just missed it.
Look at the scene where sarah goes on about how "I made you up, didn't I, Eddie? You weren't real. I made you up, like everything else."
I just can't imagine real people talking this way. Most of the dialogue is fine but some of the dramatic monologues seem a bit forced.
But carmen making a comment like "if you win one more game you're gonna be humping your fist for a long time" I can identify with. And not a single line ever jumped out at me and said "who talks like this?!"
Older movies feel almost like the dialogue and acting is straight from a good broadway stage, and then filmed. More modern movies just seem real. It could be entirely a generation gap thing but I dunno...
The Hustler gives the COM the 5 and out.Maybe a called 4.
That's not fair...
I'm under 35 and know hands down that 'The Hustler' was a much better movie. TCOM was a good movie to revive pool but as an experienced player I hate the nagging TC's character does when he would rather win than win money. That was so bangerlike. To me there is no comparison!
Gary
Tim5000 said:
I'm under 35 and know hands down that 'The Hustler' was a much better movie. TCOM was a good movie to revive pool but as an experienced player I hate the nagging TC's character does when he would rather win than win money. That was so bangerlike. To me there is no comparison!
Gary
CreeDo said:
two things:
1. To much information.
2. Never let any girls know that, if they think thats the case they will run. they want to steal you from another girl, so lie and tell the girls your kinda busy but might be able to make a little time for them.
You a hustler Amos? 
i'm 40 and joints like Ames didnt exist in my life, hell when did they exist?(Jay help me here were going back in time) i cant relate to the era, but it is a better movie. Twlight Zone show is a dinosaur and has great writing etc. nothing out there now is like that, perhaps the writers strike in Hollywood will give them a kick in the ass to come with some good writing, Hu said it best above the new movies are cartoons or what ever he said, the Sopranos and Entorughge(the other HBO show) are the only 2 good shows I have seen in years, maybe ever.
Ky Boy said:
Sorry KY BOY, I suspected I might get some retribution over that comment. I was just saying that anyone under 35, or for that matter anyone under 50 probably doesn't realate to the films of that era.
BTW I'm also in KY even though my profile says Cincy. (I need to change that)
ribdoner said:
yeah I have heard Freddie talk alot about that room I would love to have seen it.
I went into Palace Billiards in San Franisco in 87, i think that was the name of the room, I only went there once and for some reason had to leave right when I got there, it had a good vibe.
The Jointed Cue in Sacramento in my all-time favorite room Terry opened it in 66 I think.
Something about old rooms that have a special feel, that cant be recreated in a new room no matter what. You cant buy history and the vibe, smell etc that old established rooms have.
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Fatboy, I still remember the feeling I got the first time I walked into the Palace in San Francisco in 1967. I got goose bumps when you mentioned it. It was just around the corner from Cochrans. Both were nice rooms but the Palace was more nostalgic. Nothing like the newer rooms of today.
TCOM does not come close to The Hustler for me. If I twirled my cue after winning cash in a strange room like Vince did, I'd have to be ready to run real fast or be packing heavy.
Did anyone notice Grady (Keith) Summers smile for a split second when Vince kicked in that shot? Probably happy because of the many takes it took. And how many of you ever complained because your opponant (fast Eddie) wanted to forfeit his match in a big tournament? I for one am always happy to take one. I had a lot of trouble associating with many things in this movie.
TCOM does not come close to The Hustler for me. If I twirled my cue after winning cash in a strange room like Vince did, I'd have to be ready to run real fast or be packing heavy.
Did anyone notice Grady (Keith) Summers smile for a split second when Vince kicked in that shot? Probably happy because of the many takes it took. And how many of you ever complained because your opponant (fast Eddie) wanted to forfeit his match in a big tournament? I for one am always happy to take one. I had a lot of trouble associating with many things in this movie.
I think both movies were great in representing their respective time frames. The Hustler was set in a time when life was in fact a slower pace. Players played (and had the patience for) straight pool, there was more of a respect. A young Newman comes off as confident, but not disrespectful to Jackie's character. TCOM? Well it also captures it's snapshot in time. Now it's the fast paced world of instant gratification that is known as 9-ball. Each successive generation is looking to the shortcut, the fast track - no time for straight pool, let's win on the break! Cruise's character comes off as arrogant, and well, he is! That is indicative of the progression of this sport! From a screenplay, to direction, cinematography etc. the Hustler was a more complete package IMO. Now, the multiple failures since TCOM, are not even worth mentioning, except for the question, did these people not think that real pool players were not going to watch these movies? Come on - Rick Schroeder as a Cuetec toting pro/hustler that leaves himself only banks?!?!
Did Ving Rhames really need the money?
Did Ving Rhames really need the money?
The color of money. No question.