Shiner

Synopsis

Billy 'Shiner' Simpson is determined that today is going to be his big day - his son is about to fight for a boxing world title and make him a millionaire. But Billy's dreams are shattered when his son is knocked out inside two rounds, and Billy becomes convinced that the fight was fixed and that his son took a dive - a suspicion that seems to be confirmed when the boy is shot dead soon afterwards.

So Billy - his dreams of becoming a big shot in tatters - sets out to discover who was responsible for the death of his son. Was it the rival promoter Frank Spedding? Spedding is a true big shot, American, successful and wealthy, everything Billy aspires to be. Was it his daughter Georgie who knows the family will lose everything if her half-brother loses - has she fixed the fight and bet money on the other fighter? Or was Billy's new bodyguard responsible? Why does he soon disappear after his son's killing?

And as if Billy doesn't have enough to contend with, the police are after him because they have evidence he ran illegal, bareknuckle fights and want to arrest him.

Shiner is the fast-moving, humorous, violent, tragic story of a man consumed by ambition - a man who passionately loves boxing - a man who's past catches up with him and who won't accept that he'll never make the big-time.

Details

Year

2001

Type of film

Features

Running Time

100 mins

Format

35mm, Optical, Kodak

Director

John Irvin

Producer

Laura and Barry Townsley

Editor

Ian Crafford

Screenwriter

Scott Cherry

Director of Photography

Mike Molloy

Music

Paul Grabowsky

Principal Cast

Michael Caine, Martin Landau, Frances Barber

Genre

Production status

Complete

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Last updated 26th November 2005