Shade (2003/I)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Damian Nieman

Writer (WGA):

Damian Nieman (written by)

Release Date:

12 March 2004 (Thailand)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Look Deeper.

Plot:

Shade is set in the world of poker hustlers working the clubs and martini bars of Los Angeles. The tale...

Plot Keywords:

Big Con | Cardsharp | Long Con | Magician | Mafia

Cast

Joe Nicolo	...	Ritchie
Carl Mazzocone Sr.	...	Older Wiseguy (as Carl M. Mazzocone, Sr.)
George Tovar	...	Paulie
Frank Medrano	...	Sal
Jason Cerbone	...	Young Dean Stevens
Mark De Alessandro	...	Hitman #1
Doc Duhame	...	Hitman #2
Shane T. Anderson	...	Hitman #3
Thandie Newton	...	Tiffany
Glenn Plummer	...	Gas Station Attendant
Gabriel Byrne	...	Charlie Miller
Mick Rossi	...	Club Patron #1
Sean Stanek	...	Club Patron #2
Holly Catarancuic	...	Girl in Hallway
Carl Mazzocone	...	Doorman

MPAA:

Rated R for language, violence and sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:R | Germany:16 | Spain:13

Filming Locations:

Deep Nightclub - 1707 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Blue Dolphin Film Distribution

Trivia:

In the beginning of the movie, you see a lot of card cheating devices that have been used throughout the 19th and 20th Century. Among them is the Kepplinger holdout device which was the most popular card cheating device used.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the final game, when the camera looks at Vernon, we see Tiffany smoking behind him, apart from Miller. But when the camera shows Tiffany herself, we see she's right beside Miller.

Quotes:

Stevens: I was mucking cards since before you were born.

Movie Connections:

References The Color of Money (1986)

Soundtrack:

Violin Sonata No.25 K.301, 2nd movement

Surprised in a couple ways.

Sometimes I look at movies in terms of expectations and judge accordingly. Like 21 Grams, high expectations...and fell short. Shade, a straight to video/DVD with Stallone, mediocre at best expectations. This movie exceeded my expectations and in fact, I'd be more likely to recommend it as a rental then 21 grams. I was certainly entertained and thankfully Stallone, unlike some other straight to DVD releases, is NOT the star.

What was also unusual, was the fact that I didn't pick up on all the plot twists and they were plausible plot twists which made me feel like an actual story had been played out instead of left wondering, "where the hell did that come from"?

Better then average movie and way better then average straight to DVD. Certainly worth renting. Enjoy. If nothing else, the opening and closing credits show the viewer some very impressive slight of hand and how it's done by card sharks.