Poolhall Junkies - TNL Movie Club: Season 2

[bbobb]

So, I was debating what to put up for my movie club selection, I was going to go with my favorite Kurosawa movie which I don't think many of you have seen, but we've had a bit of an overload on Japanese movies in the recent selections, so instead I'm going to bring you back to the US for this fine piece of cinema:



Released in 2002/2003 I randomly picked this up on DVD to watch shortly after it's release and promptly bought the film. The plot outline from IMDB is as follows:

A talented pool hustler who has stayed out of the game for years, must go back to his old ways when his little brother gets involved with his enemy, the very man who held him back from greatness.

If there's one type of film that there's not nearly enough of it's Pool films. Sure there's The Hustler and The Color of Money, but that's really about it. I've been a big pool player all my life (used to play in leagues and also hustle a bit for drinks in college) and I love a film that does a good job of showing the pool culture and this film does that. The writer/lead actor/director, Mars Callahan, was a former hustler so he knows it well. While the pool itself in the movie is a bit on the flashy side (a lot of goofy trick shots that no one would actually use in a game) the culture side is quite good.

Christopher Walken plays a small, yet excellent part in the film and Chazz Palminteri is great as the main villian of the film. While it may not be one of the alltime great films, this movie is still quite good IMO and a hell of a lot of fun that not enough people got a chance to see.

[Brand X]

While it may not be one of the alltime great films, this movie is still quite good IMO and a hell of a lot of fun that not enough people got a chance to see.

Agreed completely. Even though I don't participate in the movie club, I will say it's a very entertaining movie. As far as I'm concerned it's the Rounders of pool movies, and some of the actual playing pool scenes are shot in a really fucking cool way. Very good choice bbobb.

[animegirl]

I saw this for the first time about a month ago. I have zero interest in pool but it kept me entertained. It was pretty cool overall and I agree that it made pool seem very energetic and exciting.

[Giga Power]

I actually own this. Great movie.

Walken +5.

I need to sign back up for Movie Club...

[Advocate]

Being one of the Movie Club participates. I finally saw this film. I liked it a lot. I thought for a second that he would miss the shot. But I loved the hustle. The movie has a badass soundtrack and the story itself was not drowned out with melodrama. It got to the point and it delivered. Speaking of which it made me realize that the film's story was like that of a pool game. It didn't try and do any of the typical Hollywood Plot twists. It was straight forward and if the story ever was steered off course. It banks off the table wall and goes back in trhe hole.

I loved it, Awesome pick Bbobb.

[Rumpy]

I'll be watching this tonight, impressions forth coming.

[D_N_G]

sorry bbobb, this one was barely watchable for me . i hate panning movies, and the movie club ones i know i wouldnt like i just dont watch, but this looked promising from the dvd package

some of the pool shots were neat and really the last 15 minutes or so was the only worthwhile segment shootout with silver spoons

the acting was horrible, and almost every element in the plot was cliched. the american pie type jokes were retarded, seriously retarded like a 10 year old wrote the script, and the entire movie was predictable. the gullible characters getting hustled was also very demeaning to the viewer, i mean i can see where it pushed the plot forward, but i can only suspend belief so far

just seemed like it was trying too hard, i mean it didnt even followup on its branching storylines. just left me extremely unsatisfied throughout

[bbobb]

Aw, that's too bad.

I do agree that it's nowhere near a perfect movie. The script is definitely crappy at times, and it is fairly predictable, largely due to the fact that it was the first movie the guy wrote and directed. But I still find it largely fun to watch.

[Rumpy]

This wasn't that bad. I mean it's got a fair share of eye roll educing amateur moments, but it was still a good movie. Entertained me from start to finish which is what I was looking for.