User reviews

Pool sharks are more-less a thing of the past, but not so long ago, they represented a minor but vibrant American subculture. Though often derided as vagabonds and grifters, some of these billiard mavericks who lived by the cue achieved a sort of rock-star obeisance, replete with ardent fans and fawning groupies. The Mick Jagger of them all was the legendary MINNESOTA FATS.

THE PLAYER, barely released in 1971, is one of a very small handful of films centered on the pool shark ethos. Minnesota Fats appears as himself, and his presence marks the sole point of interest in this otherwise abortive minimus of a motion picture. The dribble of a story at hand concerns a young pool scuff finding his lifestyle a hinderance to his romantic pursuits. Mostly, however, this film is about pool. Pool halls. Pool tables. People playing pool. Telephone discussions about pool. It's a dull and toilsome monotony which doesn't even showcase any particularly impressive maneuvers, and Minnesota just shows up randomly to sink a few balls. The sound, editing, and camerawork are atrocious, and the incidental music an annoying blast of bubblegum Farfisa chords.

A static regional Z movie which was thought lost for ages. I suppose we can be thankful that it survives, but I can't imagine it having appeal to any but the most stalwart billiard historians.

2/10.