For Billiard players only! BUT very Entertaining, The critics hated this flick, which in some cases can be a blessing. If your rent check has ever been hanging on the end of your cue, you'll appreciate the story as well as the characters. The pool talent speaks for itself in this movie, while being used in enough scenes to keep your interest. There are a few superfluous side plots, but there's only so much you can do in a pool movie, especially if you want to keep it real.
Its not hard to find a bad review for this one, but if you read some of the comments, it seems most people simply DON"T GET IT. Complaining that its like another movie (every pool movie) is as lame as panning movies about race cars because they aren't as good as Grand Prix or Winning. One submission actually suggested that Vince Vaughn would have been a better choice for the lead, so are we to be believe that Will Ferrell would have been a better choice for Chris Walken's role?
Lets face it folks. Pool is not held in very high esteem, and Snooker is much too difficult for most to play or embrace the strategies and time requirements.
Pool Hall Junkies is not the Hustler, nor was it intended to be. Its another movie with some good scenes, some decent acting by decent actors (although Ricky S would not have been my first pick for the protégé) and its considered a CLASSIC among some pro billiard players who don't pick it apart for its faults but rather enjoy it for its entertainment value. YES real Pros. Men and even some ladies from the WPBA tour. Some of the world's best were at the Premiere.
And for the Vince V fans . . . . lets face it; the only actor in the world who is more 1 dimensional is Kevin Costner.
Lemme think! Waterworld? The Postman? No thanks . . . Junkies blows 'em away. But then again, we're dealing with a public who is fascinated with the qualities of fast food eateries and Paris Hilton.