Marc Dottavio of Unwatchables joins us to discuss Martin Scorsese's 1986 The Color of Money. A legacy sequel to The Hustler, this pool-hall classic incorporates all of Scorcese's usual obsessions, stylistically and thematically, in very sly ways. The whip pans, snap zooms, time-lapse sequences, needle drops, and gritty mise-en-scene nicely complement the slow-burn tempo and 8-ball sequences, setting the tone for a cunning exploration of authenticity and integrity in life and sport alike. Often overlooked in discussions surrounding the filmographies of Tom Cruise, Paul Newman, & Martin Scorsese, The Color of Money is a complex character study within a neorealist milieu. It is filmmaking that deserves to be celebrated as one of the best of its decade: both raw/unvarnished & filled with directorial flair, frigid & impassioned, literal & filled with subtextual layers (including a meta commentary on weaponizing the power of observation & acting). We kick off the pod with a topical discussion on how we'd compare The Color of Money's 3 Academy Awards nominations (for Best Supporting Actress, Best Art/Production Design, & Best Adapted Screenplay) to the 2023 Oscar nominees (we recorded on the eve of the 95th Academy Awards ceremonies). It's an insightful conversation, illuminating the ways the zeitgeist and even the industry's definitions of these awards can evolve over time. Enjoy!