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Shiner cast: Michael Caine, Kenneth Cranham, Frances Barber, and Matthew Marsden director: John Irvin 95 minutes (18) 2001 Momentum VHS retail Also available to buy on DVD [released 14 October] RATING: 7/10 reviewed by Christopher Teague |
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As you would expect, Caine steals the film with an excellent performance as the man out for revenge, and he is ably supported by a well cast group of UK actors, including Kenneth Cranham, Frances Barber and Matthew Marsden (making his debut) as Shiner's son. Caine's descent from happy and proud promoter of his first professional event to murderous individual, who will stop at nothing, is one of his most intense (one particular scene is superbly directed by Irvin and played by all the cast concerned).
It's not a classic film by any means, for it is just Get Carter thinly disguised, and some of the performances are, occasionally, hammy. But there is a nice line of humour running through the script, and Caine revels in his role. Overall, this is definitely one of Caine's better films, but falls short of the classics such as Get Carter, Alfie, The Italian Job and Zulu.