Salutations friends,
In this monthly thread, it is my intention to recommend everyone movies that may have slipped under the radar. If you have seen the movie I'm recommending, feel free to leave your thoughts whether you liked it or not. A'ight?
Starting in 5...4...3...2...
"A dramatic thriller with a large cast playing the hell out of some very juicy roles."
-- Kirk Honeycutt, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
"Loaded with dizzying cons and betrayals, it pays off with a satisfying and unpredictable finish."
-- Kevin Thomas, LOS ANGELES TIMES
"A fan of gambling flicks? Then, ante up for this one."
-- E! ONLINE
"Good fun for those who like Mametian con-inside-a-con-inside-a-con trickery."
-- Eugene Novikov, FILM BLATHER
"With so many sucker bets coercing your hand before you’re really ready to make a safe cinematic wager, this will be one film you won’t mind losing your money to see."
-- Todd Gilchrist, FILMSTEW.COM
SYNOPSIS -- In the shady atmosphere of an underground gambling club, LA's card sharks come out to play. Deception and trickery is the only rule in a game where nothing is as it seems, and everyone has a poker face. (From Rotten Tomatoes)
CAST -- Stuart Townsend, Gabriel Byrne, Thandie Newton, Jamie Foxx, Melanie Griffith and Sylvester Stallone.
MPAA RATING -- R, for language, violence and sexuality/nudity
RUNTIME -- 1 hour, 42 minutes
RELEASE DATES -- Theatrical: Apr 9, 2004 | Video & DVD: May 25, 2004
RELEASE COMPANY -- RKO Pictures
I'm going to um, put my cards on the table right now...CLIFFHANGER, RAMBO, TANGO & CASH, LOCK UP, COBRA, COP LAND, DEMOLITION MAN, ROCKY I-V, and OVER THE TOP are movies I know and love. Stallone is an action movie God and sad as it is, he hasn't had a hit movie since CLIFFHANGER in '93 (Spy Kids 3 doesn't count). However, SHADE is a return to grace for the Itallion Stallion. I'm surprised this movie didn't get rereleased or gone wider seeing as how Jamie Foxx is the "it" guy in Hollywood right now and poker is sweeping the nation.
SHADE is a fast-paced, sylish, well-acted movie that would make a great triple feature with two more underrated gems, CONFIDENCE and POOLHALL JUNKIES.
See it now!