Shiner

Synopsis

After his Academy Award-winning performance as a New England doctor in The Cider House Rules, Michael Caine is back on British turf for this thriller set in the boxing world. In Shiner, the actor's fourth collaboration with producer Geoffrey Reeve, he really does feel as if he's come home. "I've been preparing for Shiner all my life," says Caine. "I grew up in the Elephant & Castle area [in south-east London] and I know exactly who I'm playing - but I daren't give you his name because he'd come and kill me!"



Caine's character, Billy 'Shiner' Simpson, is a boxing promoter who has invested all his hopes in his son Eddie (UK TV star Matthew Marsden). But when Eddie is knocked out in the second round of a crucial bout, then shot dead soon afterwards, Billy's life falls apart. He sets out to discover who killed his son, but his efforts are hampered by police pursuing him for running unlicensed fights.



Playing opposite Caine, as rival promoter Frank Spedding, is a suitably heavyweight talent in the shape of Martin Landau, himself an Oscar winner for 1994's Ed Wood.



Shiner also marks a return to the UK for British director Irvin, whose most recent work is NBC & Hallmark's Noah's Ark. The film is the feature debut of writer Scott Cherry, who has extensive credits writing for British television and radio. It is also the first film from fledgling UK production and finance company Wisecroft Ltd.



Shiner is set to premiere at this year's San Sebastian Film Festival.

Details

Year

2000

Type of film

Features

Director

John Irvin

Music

Paul Grabowsky.

Dir

John Irvin.

Exec prods

Laura Townsley, Barry Townsley.

Co-exec prods

Guy Collins, Neil Bowman.

Prod

Geoffrey Reeve.

Co-prod

Jim Reeve.

Scr

Scott Cherry.

DoP

Mike Molloy.

Prod des

Austen Spriggs.

Ed

Ian Crafford.

Main cast

Michael Caine, Martin Landau, Frances Barber, Claire Rushbrook, Frank Harper, Andy Serkis, Matthew Marsden.

Budget

$10m.

Funding

Private sources.

Genre

Production status

Complete

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Last updated 24th June 2005