Shiner (2000)

46% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
28% of users liked it
(144 ratings)

A minor-league criminal suddenly finds himself in deep trouble in this thriller. Billy "Shiner" Simpson (Michael Caine) is a man who has spent much of his life making a living by skirting the law, but he thinks he may finally have a legitimate path to the big time managing his son Eddie (Matthew… More A minor-league criminal suddenly finds himself in deep trouble in this thriller. Billy "Shiner" Simpson (Michael Caine) is a man who has spent much of his life making a living by skirting the law, but he thinks he may finally have a legitimate path to the big time managing his son Eddie (Matthew Marsden), an up-and-coming boxer nicknamed "Golden Boy." Eddie is set to fight an American champion in a prizefight, and Billy is convinced Eddie can't lose. Even after Billy's daughter Georgie (Frances Barber) tips off the cops that he has been staging illegal underground brawls, Billy is able to convince the police not to arrest him until after Eddie's big bout. But Eddie loses in the second round, and Billy flees the arena with his son in tow. Billy and Eddie are followed by a gunman who shoots and kills the young fighter, and a distraught Billy becomes convinced someone got to Eddie and forced him to take a dive. As Billy tries to avoid both the law and the bookies with money on Eddie, he challenges a number of people he believes might know what really happened, including Eddie's coach Vic (Gary Lewis), the down-on-his-luck American promoter Frank Speeding (Martin Landau), Mel (Andy Serkis), one of Billy's henchmen (who can't say where he was when Eddie was killed), and Georgie and her husband. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: John Irvin
Genres: Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jul 13, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Aug 20, 2002

Critic Reviews

Daphne Gordon, Toronto Star
It's hard to like a film about a guy who is utterly unlikeable, and Shiner, starring Michael Caine as an aging British boxing promoter desperate for a taste of fame and fortune, is certainly that.
Ray Conlogue, Globe and Mail
An ambitious movie that, like Shiner's organizing of the big fight, pulls off enough of its effects to make up for the ones that don't come off.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
Shiner can certainly go the distance, but isn't world championship material.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
A tough and uncompromising drama about a boxing promoter betrayed by his family, Shiner may not totally succeed in its story outcome, but it is worth seeing for Michael Caine's devastatingly powerful and vulnerable performance alone.
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide
Lacks heart, depth and, most of all, purpose.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
This DVD has some punch, but it ain't a knock-out.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The movie is so unrelentingly downbeat, it's no wonder its distributor thought it would never find an audience.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
(Caine) proves once again he hasn't lost his touch, bringing off a superb performance in an admittedly middling film.
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
For all its violence, the movie is remarkably dull with only Caine making much of an impression.
Bruce Kirkland, Jam! Movies
A waste of fearless purity in the acting craft.

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Danny R

A first-rate hard-boiled brutal British crime drama, where Sir Michael Caine delivers a intense and powerful performance, as Billy "Shiner" Simpson a gangster/boxing promoter with serious money and legal problems, who bets everything in a make-or-break title fight, between… More
A first-rate hard-boiled brutal British crime drama, where Sir Michael Caine delivers a intense and powerful performance, as Billy "Shiner" Simpson a gangster/boxing promoter with serious money and legal problems, who bets everything in a make-or-break title fight, between his terrified 20-year-old son and a American boxer of vastly superior ability, when his son loses, Shiner concludes that someone forced his son to throw the fight. Before Shiner can talk to his son, he is shot right in front of him, by some unknown and unseen person. Shiner now seeks revenge, and will stop at nothing to find who is responsible for his son's death. A fascinating character study of a paranoid, bullying, ego-driven man, who can't accept that his problems are all self made. Fine direction by John Irvin, with superlative supporting performances by Martin Landau, Frances Barber, Claire Rushbrook, Andy Serkis, Gary Lewis, Danny Wedd and Kenneth Cranham. A grim tale worth seeing for Caine's show stopping performance. Highly Recommended.