The Color of Money with Chris Ryan

Blank Check hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims are joined by guest critic Chris Ryan to discuss Martin Scorsese's 1986 film The Color of Money, a project Scorsese undertook as a commercial venture after several high-budget films underperformed. The episode explores how the film, despite its origins as a financial play, doesn't feel like a cynical cash-grab and instead stands as a legitimate entry in Scorsese's filmography. The discussion covers the film's narrative arc of passing the torch from Paul Newman's aging pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson to Tom Cruise's ambitious protégé, examining themes of mentorship and generational succession. The hosts dive into the technical and cultural specifics of pool/snooker, the Atlantic City setting, and the film's relationship to its source material. The episode also weaves in tangential but thematically relevant cultural touchstones, including Warren Zevon's music (referenced in the show's title callback to "Werewolves of London"), and connects to broader conversations about novelizations and physical media. The show notes reference Minnesota Fats as a pool legend, Amsterdam Billiards as a cultural location, and Adam Sandler's performance of "Werewolves of London," suggesting the hosts explore how the film sits within wider pop culture contexts. Chris Ryan brings his perspective as a film critic and cultural commentator, likely providing analysis of Scorsese's directorial choices, the film's place in his career trajectory, and its legacy as an early "legacyquel" that predates the modern franchise model. The episode appears to balance deep film criticism with entertaining tangents and cultural connections, maintaining the Blank Check podcast's signature style of combining serious cinematic analysis with pop culture enthusiasm and humor. At over three hours, the episode suggests comprehensive coverage with room for digression and exploration.

Verdict: A well-crafted deep dive into an underrated Scorsese film with a strong guest, solid critical perspective, and entertaining tangential connections that justifies its length for devoted film fans.

TV & Film rubric

• Critical insight 4/5 20%

  The premise itself—examining why a commercial assignment doesn't feel like one—suggests substantive analysis beyond plot summary, and Chris Ryan's presence indicates serious critical perspective on Scorsese's choices and legacy.

• Behind-the-scenes knowledge 3/5 20%

  References to Scorsese's career trajectory and the film's production context (money gig after budget bounces) show some industry awareness, though no clear evidence of insider interviews or exclusive access.

• Entertainment 4/5 15%

  The show notes' playful tone (balabushka references, Warren Zevon callbacks, tangential cultural connections) and the presence of an engaging guest critic suggest lively, entertaining discussion beyond dry analysis.

• Substance 4/5 15%

  Three hours devoted to a single film with thematic exploration of pool culture, Atlantic City, generational succession, and Scorsese's career context indicates dense content, though length alone doesn't guarantee no padding.

• Delivers on its title 5/5 15%

  The episode title directly names the film and the show notes confirm comprehensive discussion of the movie itself, its themes, and its cultural context without misdirection.

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  At 3h 19m, the episode is substantial but the show notes don't clarify whether this length is earned through density or includes significant tangents; typical Blank Check episodes balance both.

How we score TV & Film

Worth it if you're a Scorsese enthusiast, enjoy detailed film criticism, or appreciate Blank Check's signature blend of serious analysis and pop culture tangents.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.