Poolhall Junkies (2002)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Mars Callahan

Writers:

Mars Callahan (written by) and
Chris Corso (written by)

Release Date:

21 March 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

It's your shot. Take it.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Pool | Pool Hustler | Pool Hall | Pool Game | Party

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Chazz Palminteri	...	Joe
Rick Schroder	...	Brad
Rod Steiger	...	Nick
Michael Rosenbaum	...	Danny
Mars Callahan	...	Johnny
Alison Eastwood	...	Tara
Phillip Glasser	...	Max
Anson Mount	...	Chris
Glenn Plummer	...	Chico
Richard Portnow	...	Toupee Jay
Ernie Reyes Jr.	...	Tang
Peter Mark Richman	...	Phillip
Christopher Walken	...	Mike
Mike Massey	...	Louis
Orien Richman	...	Brett

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:MA | UK:15 | USA:R | Germany:12 | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15

Filming Locations:

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Company:

Gold Circle Films

Trivia:

In real life Mars Callahan is an accomplished pool player who met co-writer Chris Corso in a pool hall where each was trying to hustle the other. After a bitterly contested game (neither will tell who actually won) the two became best friends. Swapping war stories about their mutual experiences playing pool, the two decided to write a script based on their experiences and observations. Two weeks later the script was completed, but it would take another ten years to get it to the big screen.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Brad attempts the jump/bank shot on the 8-ball at the end of the movie, the cue ball can easily be seen clearing the 9-ball when it draws back, yet it still manages to knock the 9-ball into the "frozen against the rail" position for the last shot.

Quotes:

Guitar Player In Club Band: Y'know, you were really good tonight kid.
Danny Doyle: Yeah, too bad nobody will ever know.

Movie Connections:

References Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Soundtrack:

In the Mood

This movie is an awesome 'Pool' film

Poolhall Junkies exhibits a breathtaking spectacle of pool brilliance. It leaves nothing out - Jump shots, masse shots and superbly illustrated draw and bank shots.

First and foremost, it is a sports film, though fundamentally incorporates certain genres like romance and action so as to not alienate the movie going audience. However, unlike the hustler - which many perceived was a love story with a Pool backdrop, and the Color of Money - which put more emphasis on money and gambling than on the sport of pool itself, Poolhall Junkies displays Pool in all its unadulterated beauty.

It failed to be a smash hit, I dare say, as there were no huge names in the film unlike the above mentioned two which had Tom Cruise and Paul Newman. Nevertheless the casting is excellent. Mars Callahan does a great job playing Johnny - the talented and cocky hustler with an inherent deep regret of not being a pro, and Rick Shroder plays the great steely eyed and fierce opponent, with, lamentably, a not so terrifying name, Brad. Furthermore Christopher Walken adds tremendous spice to the film as Johnny's stakehorse, with an exultant presence, inspirational philosophies and a few wickedly innovative pool shots to boot.

Some bits seem derivative from the Hustler and/or the Color of Money, especially the clichéd hustle dialogue, but they work well, it's part of what makes a hustling film, and adds to its comedic value! I would rate this 8 out of 10, overall, but if a definitive Pool film is what you want, look no further than this.