Paul Newman - The Color of Money

The latest in my addition of Best Actor Winners

Actor: Paul Newman                                
Film: The Color of Money
Director: Martin Scorsese
Year: 1986

Other Nominees:

Dexter Gordon - Round Midnight
Bob Hoskins - Mona Lisa
William Hurt - Children of a Lesser God
James Woods - Salvador


Paul Newman's Oscar for his reprising his role Eddie Felson is often cited as one of the greatest examples of Oscar rewarding a favorite actor for one of his lesser performances.  That's not to say that Paul Newman delivers a less than average performance here, but given his great roles in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Hud, Butch Cassidy, Cool Hand Luke, The Sting, The Verdict and later performances in Nobody's Fool and Road to Perdition leave some people wishing he could've received it for a greater performance.  However, his award here is more than acceptable than other career Oscars such as John Wayne's in True Grit.

Paul Newman certainly knows the Fast Eddie character well and he displays that confidently here.  There isn't much trouble buying that Eddie has ended up where he is, Newman takes it even further and displays the character's doubts and strengths as he takes a young hustler under his tutelage.  Eddie still possesses the same confidence, but also must face the realization that he isn't untouchable as he once might have been.  This type of character obviously wasn't new for Newman, so the performance lacks the range of earlier Newman performances.  Despite the simple nature of the performance it is also a performance that is difficult to dislike, and Oscar saw an appropriate time to honor a Hollywood legend.

Bob Hoskins' performance in Mona Lisa likely posed the greatest threat to Newman's win, but with Newman's star power and the smaller nature of Hoskin's film paved the way for Newman. Notably absent in the field were Jeff Goldblum hampered by the sci-fi and grotesque nature of The Fly and Gary Oldman's breakthrough in Sid and Nancy.

Paul Newman's win is notable for being the only time an actor has won an Oscar for reprising a role in a sequel.  Newman was also the third actor to win in  Martin Scorsese film.

Other Wins:
National Board of Review