"You've heard people talk about the best film you've never seen? Well, Michael Caine's acting in "Shiner" may be the best screen performance you've never seen."
John J Puccio DVDTOWN.COM
"The performance, as Caine taps into his darkest, most turbulent emotions, is as good as Caine gets in his mature years. It is free of that mealy "friendly" thing he does when cast as lovable cads or codgers, especially in Hollywood movies directed by people who would be terrified if they saw him pushing a character to the extremes that he does in Shiner."
Bruce Kirkland TORONTO SUN
"Michael Caine shows a return to form here as Billy 'Shiner' Simpson, a "cheap little boxing promoter" on the verge of his lifetime's ambition - to have a champion, in the form of his son Eddie 'Golden Boy' Simpson (played adeptly by Matthew Marsden). The stage is set for his boy to win, but tragedy and deception loom at every turn, as the seeds he has sown in the past come to bear terrible fruit."
The Wolf IOFILMS UK
"It’s good to see Michael Caine whipping out the dirty words and punching people in the stomach again."
David Cornelius AMAZING COLOSSAL WEBSITE
"Harper and Serkis are terrific, while Caine carries the film with the authority of a man who has been here before."
The Wolf IOFILM.CO.UK
"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."
Ray Conlogue GLOBE AND MAIL
"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."
URBAN CINEFILE
"This depiction of a minor British gangster succeeds to a point in evoking a seedy atmosphere of East End bad guys - it's a corrupt world of fixed fights, ruthless speculators and killers. Caine is very good as the not very bright and not very likable Shiner, and there are plenty of other colorful characters around him, especially Andy Serkis, so memorable as Gollum in Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, as Mel, a bodyguard who maybe isn't completely loyal to his boss."
David Stratton THE MOVIE SHOW
At A Glance
If you ever wondered why people go to the cinema to see films just for their 'star quality' then here is a grand example. "Shiner". Certainly not in the class of "The Quiet American", nor in any way in the same league as "Last Orders" but by hell, Sir Maurice Micklewhite is at his most brilliant best in this film about an aging boxing promoter who is pinning all his hopes on his sons latest fight. Sorry. Forgive me. You know how it is when you get a little excited. Sir Maurice Joseph Micklewhite? Silly me. Of course I meant Michael Caine didn't I. As a modest reviewer I would never attempt to show any sense of superiority over my readers by insinuating that I actually do know something about film. We all know by now that Maurice Micklewhites real name is Michael Caine. Maurice Micklewhite? Now that's a name which would never look good in the credits. Ah Michael Caine, now that's a name which is synonymous with quality. Over the long years Michael Caine has been associated with so many quality films plus television and stage productions. Success didn't come easy for Sir Maurice but fate and 'the gods' had set the wheels in motion from the moment he was born. His early years were spent fascinated by film, developing a healthy interest in novels, many visits to the Old Vic Theatre and appearing in school plays. All through those formative years Maurice believe he was destined to be an actor. His first job was with the theatre at Horsham as an assistant stage manager before moving to the Lowestoft Repetory Theatre in Suffolk where he gained the juvenile lead. Here he would meet and marry the late Patricia Haines. His confidence growing, he changed his name to Michael Caine and moved to London, working with the Joan Littlewood Theatre Workshop. Later, with the support of his mother, he pusued a full time acting career. In five years he appeared in more than 100 television dramas. For all this exposure it seemed everyone knew his face but no-one knew his name. For a time he shared a flat with Terence Stamp and composer John Barry, but his break would come and it did with the film "Zulu". He turned his appearance as Lt Gonville Bromhead into a star performance. Now it seemed, everyone knew who Michael Caine was.
Since then he has appeared in over 80 films to date and received numerous awards. I like many have been a huge fan and here's some of my favourite's. "Alfie", "The Ipcress File", "The Italian Job", "Dressed to Kill", "Educating Rita", "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", "Sleuth", "Hannah & Her Sisters", "Last Orders" and "The Quiet American". It's a career which has seen critical acclaim, awards, a knighthood and a successful career as a restaurant owner. The Caine of old with the trademark Cockney accent and glasses has come a long way and, should the 'gods' continue to smile on him, he will go a lot further. There is plenty of life left in Michael Caine as fans will find out with "Shiner". It's not a pretty film, the characters are at times ugly, but Michael Caine is as large as life itself in the role of Billy 'Shiner' Simpson. Billy is not a pretty boy. He's cold, calculating, arrogant and beneath the trappings just another hoodlum. Caine is the linch-pin around which everything revolves in "Shiner". Surrounded by his minders and a family who fear him, Caines Billy 'Shiner' Simpson is a despicable, contemptuous man. It is because of Billys hugeness, one can tend to overlook much of what is going on around him. There are some great characters in "Shiner" like the yank Frank Spedding [Martin Landau], Gibson [Kenneth Cranham], his son Eddie "Golden Boy" Simpson and of course Billys minders Stoney [Frank Harper] and Mel[Andy Serkis]. They're all fascinating.
 But, just in case you think "Shiner" is a classic Michael Caine film everyone can enjoy let me qualify "Shiner" this way. It's not your classic Michael Caine film but rather your classic Michael Caine. Big, bold, aged well and full of punch. I could be wrong, but this is not a film for everyone but rather a film for everyone who is a Michael Caine fan. On that basis "Shiner will suit the latter and anyone with a streak for those curious, quirky films.
The Story
Billy 'Shiner' Simpson has banked everything on his son Eddie "Golden Boy" Simpson who is about to take on american boxer Michael "Mikey" Peck in crucial bout which may lead to a crack at the world title. There's a lot riding on the outcome including the family fortune. Believing this is his big night, Billy has invited many of his old mates and cronies to the fight. But things aren't going well. Gibson has stuffed up the support bouts, Eddie is getting cold feet and the police want to arrest Billy over the death of a boxer named Joe Mahoney. Can it get any worse. It sure can, as Billy 'Shiner' Simpson is about to find out. It's going to be a very long hard night for everyone. A night filled with drama, tension and surprises both in and out of the boxing ring.
The Verdict
"A grand performance by Michael Caine as Billy 'Shiner' Simpson is the only excuse you need to slip out and see "Shiner". This [Caines performance] is, as one great actor once said "as good as it gets". If that's the case then Caine is very good. Plenty of tough body blows and lots of punches below the belt makes "Shiner" a must for fans of Michael Caine."
The Cast & Crew
Michael Caine
Martin Landau
Frances Barber
Frank Harper
Andy Serkis
Claire Rushbrook
Daniel Webb
Matthew Marsden
Kenneth Cranham
David Kennedy
Peter Wight
Nicola Walker
Gary Lewis
Derrick Harmon
Josephine Butler
Malcolm Tierney
Helen Grace
Joanna Wake
Siobhan Fogarty
Ian Bartholomew
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Billy 'Shiner' Simpson
Frank Spedding
Georgie
Stoney
Mel
Ruth
Karl
Eddie 'Golden Boy' Simpson
Gibson
Chris
Det Insp Grant
Det Sgt Garland
Vic
Michael 'Mikey' Peck
Stephanie
Fleming
Spedding's PA
Oldish lady
Mel's girlfriend
Man in baseball cap
Directed by John Irvin
Screenplay by Scott Cherry
produced by Geoffrey Reeve & Jim Reeve
Original Music by Paul Grabowsky
Cinematography by Mike Molloy
Film Editing by Ian Crafford
Casting by Marilyn Johnson
Production Design by Austin Spriggs
Art Direction by Alan Cassie
Set Decoration by Maggie Gray
Costume Design by Stephanie Collie
Rated R18+ [AUST]
Run Time 99 minutes
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