Hey folks, Harry here... This is a movie that I support. It is a tiny film. Didn't have high production values, what Mars Callahan spent his money on was actors. Getting Christopher Walken, Chazz Palmientieri and Rod Steiger. Really good young talent like Michael Rosenbaum and Rick Schroeder. Mars Callahan honed his own script and performance for years to prepare for this film. This isn't the prettiest movie around, not the slickest... But for every 10 million dollars less than a STUART LITTLE 2 or THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE that it cost to make this movie... "Shoestring" is the reality, well it makes up for with pure energy, vibrancy and the result is a bristling indie that just never gives up. I'm so proud that this film found a distributor, found a release. It is in limited release right now, using my quotes in commercials almost exclusively I hear... I don't know, I haven't seen a commercial for the film, or a trailer. But I get the feeling that today they'll get a few more reviews that sing its praises. This movie is that film you walk out of thinking... Damn, let's go play pool! Then while you get drunk and crack racks and talk about all the scam and pool and hustle films you've ever seen, you'll find that POOLHALL JUNKIES was a helluva fun bit of entertainment, that kicked off an even better evening. Here's Roxy Hart with her review...
Leading this dance again is me, Roxy Hart.
I've given you reviews for IDENTITY (bad), BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE (ok) and BASIC (good). This time I'm dispensing my review, altogether, to convince everyone of you fanboys and fangirls out there to see POOLHALL JUNKIES.
I attended one of those radio/TV/studio sponsored screenings with high expectations. Not because, I've read many of the reviews on this site or had any of my industry friends tell me how fuckin' great it was, but solely for the commercial that is currently airing for this movie. The word "cool" is mentioned in the ad so much, that I thought they were trying to shove another studio polish down our throats.
This girl admits she is wrong.
You want a good movie about hustlers, go see the STING.
You want charm and wit to go with your hustles, see MAVERICK.
How about a good poolhall hustling movie with Paul Newman? THE HUSTLER
A bad poolhall hustling movie with Paul Newman? THE COLOR OF MONEY.
What does this movie have over these other movies? Absolutely nothing. Shaky visual editing, sound editing where animated sounds are covering obvious static or echo and paint-by-numbers unoriginal story. Nothing, that is, but pure, unadulterated energy. This movie had so much energy, the entire crowd was bustling with it at the end. Of course, you had your naysayers but even they were debating with kinetic force. Even during the quieter scenes, especially with the teenagers in the dining hall, the scenes were bombastic dialogue being shot back and forth. I hate using the word "clever", but that what the dialogue was. How about the pool hustling you may ask? This movie is about hustles in and out of the poolhall and every situation is better than the next. I wasn't convinced the climax could end good with so many good hustles before, but the finale doesn't disappoint. But didn't I just tell you the story is ho-hum? Yes but the energy is charged so high, you don't care! .
Don't read any more reviews! I'm warning you. Just go see this movie. Just know that...
1) Chazz Palmientieri vs. Christopher Walken
2) Rick Schroeder fancies himself a cowboy (I believe his wife and kids live out in the midwest on a farm/ranch, he has admitted that playing a cowboy is natural and fun), but this movie shows him as the badass "gunslinger" he's always wanted to be. Please no more Silver Spoons jokes, let the 80's die already.
3) Rod Steiger is and always will be a legend.
4) Holy shit, "Smallville's" Lex Luthor can act and be engaging and most of all, lead a movie? (Michael Rosenbaum)
5) Mars Callahan's blues number is terrific in this, whether he actually sang it or not.
6) Alison Eastwood is divine.
7) The rest of the cast and crew, especially my friend, Richard Portnow (Toupee Jay in the movie) congrats.
This movie will unfortunately be placed and compared alongside better fare like Resovoir Dogs, Swingers, Killing Zoe, etc. because of it's indy feel/flare.
Just watch the movie, it's...cool. Sorry, had to sneak it in there.
Tomorrow, I'll swingdance a normal review for THE CORE, followed by a review of 28 DAYS LATER by Danny Boyle by Friday or Monday.
Until I shoot another review, I am forever
Roxy Hart
