Fast Eddie Felson (Paul Newman), once a formidable Pool shark, is now much older and wiser. Having given up Pool many years ago he now sells booze to clubs and bars. On one of his sales trips, he comes across Vince (Tom Cruise), a young and very gifted Pool player with a 'sledge hammer break'. Seeing a lot of himself in Vince, he offers to take him and his girlfriend on the road, learning the trade of a Pool hustler in the Pool halls and bars, with a promise of making some serious money, ending up in a huge legitimate Pool competition. Unfortunately, Vince is a fiery young man, who cannot see the bigger picture, especially when he is told that he must loose before he can win. After a while of being educated and guided by Eddie, he decides he has had enough and will go it on his own. In the meantime Eddie has realised that the game of Pool still runs thick through his veins and decides that he is also going to enter the Pool competition, and ultimately end up playing his prodigy.

In the lead role of Fast Eddie Felson is Paul Newman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) who although is playing the same character as in the original, he is now 25 years older and much wiser. Newman does a great job of playing the cool mentor who over the years has become a great judge of character and in doing so has learnt how to control people. This is very apparent in the opening few scenes where he pulls Vince's strings to get him to come out on the road. Newman actually won an Oscar for his leading role in this film. The young Vince is played by Tom Cruise (Top Gun), a very flamboyant young man who prances round a Pool table like he's on a dance floor. The contrast between the two main characters is like chalk and cheese, the only thing they have in common is the love of Pool. This provides a good basis for a father and son relationship where Eddie tries to teach Vince, but Vince just argues and doesn't listen to the advice. Vince's girlfriend, Carmen, is played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (The Abyss), who does an adequate job of playing this character. Carmen is the only other person who can manipulate Vince and she is part of the reason why they depart company with Eddie. The supporting cast all do an adequate job but nothing really to shout home about, except for John Turturro (Mr. Deeds) as another Pool player.

*****************************==========
Conclusion & Rating
================