Shiner

R

2000

1 hr. 38 min.

Drama

List

46%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

29%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Michael Caine stars as Billy "Shiner" Simpson, a small time boxing promoter with big ideas. In a crucial match which could lead to a place in the world title fight, Billy pits his only son, Eddie Golden Boy (Matthew Marsden), against Frank Spedding's (Martin Landau) American champion Michael "Mikey" Peck (Derrick Harmon). Simpson and his daughters' financial futures rest on the outcome of the fight, so when Golden Boy is defeated, Simpson's world disintegrates.

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Audience Member

English crime dramas usually give us a different taste of violence, and the mentality of violence, and this is no exception. This movie serves as a cross between The Long Good Friday, and Stormy Monday. Caine plays the role of Billy Simpson with such tenacity that it's really hard to know whether to like him or despise him, but that's one of the film's charms. John Irvin, who's directed some pretty thrillers (The Dogs of War, Next of Kin), comes through here, and I believe this is his best film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Whatever we do, we do not fear failure. Billy 'Shiner' Simpson is a boxing promoter that has finally got his big break. In the gigantic title fight, his son is fighting for the championship. However, Shiner wasn't the most honest and cleanest promoter before he became a professional and his past is on his ass. There are a lot of loose strings in Shiner's business that is putting his first main event at risk. "This is an emergency." "Oh, you have an emergency?" "No, you have if you don't move the fucking car." John Irvin, director of Raw Deal, Hamburger Hill, City of Industry, Ghost Story, The Dogs of War, The Moon and the Stars, and The Garden of Eden, delivers Shiner. The storyline for this picture is just okay and felt like an average European underground movie. The action wasn't overly intense but the acting was above average. The cast includes Michael Cain, Martin Landau, Andy Serkis, Frank Harper, Danny Webb, and Peter Wight. "I'll personally make you fuck your mother." I came across this on Netflix and thought it would be an interesting action movie with a grindhouse feel to it...or like the Bob Hoskins films in this genre. This movie fell flat for me and wasn't as good as I had hoped. This may be worth watching for b gangster movie fans, but I'd recommend skipping this. "You want to keep your bullocks? Then fucking shut up." Grade: C

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Audience Member

Don't watch this bad movie unless you are being threatened at gunpoint. Michael Caine -- what's good about him?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Directed by John Irvin (Raw Deal (1986), Hamburger Hill (1987) and Widows' Peak (1994)), and written by Scott Cherry (The Bill). This crime drama is centred around the world of underground boxing promotion, and the dangers that go hand in hand with this world. It has a good lead performance, (he can do this in his sleep), although the plot is partially inspired by Shakespeare's King Lear. Billy 'Shiner' Simpson (Michael Caine) is a boxing promoter who due to past incidents and shady dealings, has been banned from deal in legitimate fights. But, Billy believes he has a shot at the big time, by putting his own son Eddie (Matthew Marsden), who he's dubbed Golden Boy. After the fight, Eddie is killed and Billy goes for revenge to find out who did it. He initially suspects American boxing promoter Frank Spedding (Martin Landau), a rival who was non-plussed at having to come to England for the fight which didn't last long at all. In the process of trying to find who did it, Billy starts to lose touch with reality, and he descends into madness. It has some good performances, even if it does descend into London East End gangster territory too much, but Caine proves he can still do great films, and he does well here. This could be seen as a slight dry run for things to eventually come in Harry Brown (2008). You'll have seen stuff like this before, but this one is worth a go.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

(**): [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img]

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Just the one dinosaur in this movie - no spaceships - and that's how it works. The essence is surely in the bland. This is a classified all-time 'classic' with Caine on brilliant form - not to mention the entire cast.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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John Irving

Director

Michael Caine

Billy 'Shiner' Simpson

Martin Landau

Frank Spedding

Frances Barber

Georgie

Claire Rushbrook

Ruth

Frank Harper

Stoney

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

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.

Rated: 1/5

May 4, 2002

Full Review

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.

Rated: 3/4

May 3, 2002

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Oct 30, 2005

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 4/5

Jul 29, 2005

Full Review

Amber Wilkinson

Eye for Film

Shiner can certainly go the distance, but isn't world championship material.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 17, 2003

Full Review

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Synopsis

Michael Caine stars as Billy "Shiner" Simpson, a small time boxing promoter with big ideas. In a crucial match which could lead to a place in the world title fight, Billy pits his only son, Eddie Golden Boy (Matthew Marsden), against Frank Spedding's (Martin Landau) American champion Michael "Mikey" Peck (Derrick Harmon). Simpson and his daughters' financial futures rest on the outcome of the fight, so when Golden Boy is defeated, Simpson's world disintegrates.

Director: John Irving
Executive Producer: Barry Townsley, Laura Townsley, Guy Collins, Neil Bowman
Screenwriter: Scott Cherry
Production Co: Geoff Reeve Films, Visionview
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 7, 2017
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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