[.ca] Poolhall Junkies

nothing special:
**1/2 Though likeable at times, "Poolhall Junkies" is essentially an uneven mix of comedy and drama. Gregory "Mars" Martin, who co-wrote and directed the film, also stars as Johnny Doyle, a hustler-with-a-heart-of-gold who coulda' been a contenda' if only his mentor/manager, Joe (Chazz Palminteri), hadn't stood in his way. "Poolhall Junkies" demonstrates the risks inherent in a young filmmaker finding it necessary to cast himself in the starring role. Though he somehow managed to rope such acting heavyweights as Palminteri, Rod Steiger and the ubiquitous Christopher Walken into his project, Martin himself has nowhere near the intensity and gravitas necessary to take center stage in a film. As a result of his weak performance, the film lacks the intensity and grit it needs to succeed. In addition, the movie suffers from unfocused plotting, a few too many characters, corny dialogue and a predictable resolution. The one saving grace of the film, however, is that it doesn't take itself too seriously and doesn't feel the need to go into melodramatic overdrive to make its points. "Poolhall Junkies" is a painless time waster, though better you should spend that time re-watching "The Hustler" and reminding yourself how this material should be done. Or, better yet, maybe Martin should have done that before taking on this assignment. Rack 'em up.

Underrated & Ignored:
This is one of the few movies I have seen that I feel deserves more attention. In addition to featuring the last performance by screen legend Rod Stieger, it features excellent turns by both Chazz Palminteri and Christopher Walken. The first effort by Mars Callahan, this was written ten years ago, but only filmed and released two years ago. Never has a movie about a sport that isn't really even a sport held my interest through game after game of pool. My advice is to at least rent it if you're a fan of comedies or con movies

Poor effort:
I am a pool junkie myself, and this film, while somewhat entertaining just by the fact it deals with pool, falls well short of the mark. The story itself is very underdeveloped, and leaves alot of loose ends. There are a few clever exchanges of bravado and quips, but any pool player with a few years of experience will tell you that this stuff just doesn't happen. No one loses a few hundred, or few thousand bucks on a drinking or pool game that hinges on symantics like "your" shot or "my" shot, and pays up with a "hey ya got me" grin. The pool is bad. The main character says he can tell Walken has been playing pool from a crease in his pants and some blue chalk marks. First I'd be leary of a guy looking at my pants, second they return to a table with red felt. Who uses blue chalk on red felt? These "pro" level hustlers end up going three to five rails on almost every shot, playing for upwards of $80,000 in a 9 ball race to 5. While the shots are impressive, I ask you this ... What decent poolplayer has to shoot every shot as a bank or three rail shot? If you can't leave yorself even one straight in shot in 5 games, should you really be playing for thousands a game? The story is ridiculous. The shots are dazzling, but so ridiculously over complicated for a a poolhall money game. Walken is wasted here. The story is weak. If you can look past the lack of plot development, and the technical deficiencies and just want to watch anything about pool, it is OK. There are a few quotes you will find yourself trying to remember for the poolhall, and an 8 ball shot that you will have to try yourself, but have probably tried already before seeing the movie. This movie is strictly for the non critcal "Poolhall Junkie".

Not a bad pool movie:
I liked the movie a lot. I think that the acting was good and Walken was a great fit in the roles like Chazz too. It may have lacked a little in the dramatics but overall the dialogue and the the poolhall atmosphere was portrayed nicely. If you are a huge pool buff or a huge pool movie buff, this may not be high on your list but still it is very well made and honestly could have been worse. Makes me wanna get a "hustler" shirt and head down to my poolhall looking like a badass.

My number one movie of all time:
While I don't know a whole lot about pool, as a movie this one stands out above almost all others to me. It's probably the fact that the characters in the movie are very similar in several regards to me and my friends, we're all around the early to mid 20's mark, but this movie was something that to me could be taken right out of real life and dramatized into this (too?) brief movie. Sure, there are things no 'real' huslter would do, there's some loose ends and some of the escapades are a bit outlandish, but its all very entertaining and not entirely outside the realm of possability and the music is perfect, bluesy to fit the mood of a guy in the somewhat sketchy parts of an inner city trying to make it by and earn few bucks and respect from others and for himself while finding out who he really is.