“The Color of Money” Paul Newman vs. Tom Cruise, Scorsese’s “ultimate star movie”

Portraits of women depicted in the two “The Hustler” films

Many of Martin Scorsese's films depict a man's world, and women often play supporting roles, but if you look closely, you will find that women actually play important roles. Although ``The Color of Money'' is a movie that centers on Paul Newman and Tom Cruise, the excellent performance of Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who plays Vincent's girlfriend Carmen, cannot be overlooked. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for this film.

Even though it was originally a man's movie, as in the previous film, `` The Hustler ,'' women had a major role. Piper Laurie, who would later be acclaimed for her role as a fanatical mother in Carrie (1976), played Sarah, Eddie's lover, and given the era of the early 1960s, it was a fairly groundbreaking portrayal of a woman. It has become. At first glance, he appears to be a decent person, but in reality he is addicted to alcohol and emerges as a somewhat destructive person. On the other hand, he goes to university twice a week, has an intellectual sensibility, and is thinking of turning his story with Eddie into a novel. She sees the world with open eyes and has the ability to see through the essence of things, and she looks at Eddie with sad eyes as he falls into a dirty world because of the promoter, Bart. Then, the cunning Bart corners her, leading to a tragic end.

Although this work was made at a time when the feminist movement was not yet in full swing, Sarah has the sharp perspective of a woman who firmly owns herself, and she eventually brings about a change in Eddie's inner life. ``Sarah was a completely different character from the Hollywood good girls played by Natalie Wood and others,'' the book `` Rebel: The Rebel Hero in Films '' mentioned above said. There is. This new image of women was praised, and Laurie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress this year.

“The Color of Money” (c)Photofest / Getty Images

Although she doesn't have as strong an impact as Sara, Carmen in The Color of Money has a different charm. It has a somewhat heartwarming, powerful presence that catches the eye just when it appears. At the time, Mastrantonio was an up-and-coming Italian actress who gained attention for her role as Al Pacino's sister in Scarface (1983), and she had stable acting skills as she was also active on stage.

The Carmen she played in ``The Color of Money'' has a sexy and provocative charm, but on the other hand, she also has a dignified side that doesn't flatter others and has sharp intuition. Eddie also likes her and considers her an accomplice in raising Vincent, an unknown thoroughbred. The story is set in a man's world of The Hustler, but she views it with a stern eye (so she doesn't become a victim like Sarah in The Hustler ). I also feel that the times have changed in that the image of women is tougher than the previous work.

The women in Scorsese's films often view the male-dominated world from a slightly different perspective. The wives of the main characters in `` Raging Bull '' and `` Casino '' (1995), and the daughters of the main characters in `` The Irishman '' (19), watch the yakuza men from a distance, and their perspectives This created a wide range of characters in movies. Carmen from ``The Color of Money'' is probably one such person. Her name is spelled the same as the heroine of the opera classic Carmen. In the movie, a poster for the film `` Carmen '' (1984) directed by Francesco Rosi is posted in the room where Carmen is. Were you conscious of the image of Carmen? A former Carmen who destroyed men with her fierce personality. Modern Carmen is smarter and braver. This image of women is also one of the attractions of this movie.

The Hustler image of the rock generation created with Robbie Robertson