Shiner – 2000 | 99mins | Drama | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Shiner is a mediocre gangster revenge tale reminiscent of Michael Caine’s iconic classic Get Carter (1971). Loosely based on ‘King Lear’, Shakespearean tragedy is relocated to London’s East End in this grim and brutal psychological crime drama. Michael Caine’s virtuoso performance of the human condition bolsters this suitably seedy, but ultimately lacklustre and third rate production.

Hoping to make the big time, small time crook and boxing promoter, Billy “Shiner” Simpson (Michael Caine), finds a way to make some legitimate money by managing his reluctant son Eddie (Matthew Marsden), who is an up and coming boxer, nicknamed “Golden Boy.” When Billy’s unscrupulous daughter Georgie (Frances Barber) tips off the police they raid Eddie’s title prize-fight, and events take a turn for the worse when a sure win turns sour. Billy is convinced that somebody forced Eddie to take a dive and goes on the run with his boxer son from the police and the bookies he owes money to. When Eddie is shot dead later that evening whilst Billy is grilling him, the vengeful father challenges a number of people he believes might know what really happened.