Lucybespro It is a performances centric movie

Aedonerre I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

Kodie Bird True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

zkonedog In a number of different James Bond films, the tuxedo-clad hero would be introduced to viewers via a game of poker. Imagine him playing that game 24/7, and what you'd get is very close to what Shade is.The plot of this film is so fractured, convoluted, and filled with turns that it is difficult to describe, but basically it revolves around the setting up (and eventually playing) of a high-stakes poker game that has enormous repercussions for every player involved.I can easily see why this film was only released to certain select Los Vegas theaters, as the plot was so meandering and the acting (by and large) so underwhelming. However, it could have been at least a decent film if it would have focused on the two things it did well, those being:1. The intensity of the poker scenes. Though this movie is billed to be "all about poker", it is really more about con men and hustlers, thus cheapening the raw tension of the card-playing scenes.2. The acting performances by Sylvester Stallone (The Dean) and Stuart Townsend (The Mechanic). Townsend shines as the up-and-coming hustler trying to knock off the big-gun, played very well by a Stallone trying (at least at the time) to choose some age-appropriate roles. Unfortunately, the ending kind of ruins this relationship (although I can't tell you exactly why).Overall, Shade is a barely-watchable film due to some flashes of acting drama and some intense poker scenes. Other than that, though, it falls completely flat.

adonis98-743-186503 Shade is set in the world of poker hustlers working the clubs and martini bars of Los Angeles. The tale unfolds as a group of hustlers encounter "The Dean" and pull off a successful sting that results in their pursuit by a vengeful gangster. This is probably one of the best movies about Poker with a very simple plot and some pretty talented actors like Sylvester Stallone, Jamie Foxx, Thandie Newton and Hal Holbrook as far as acting, script and story go they were pretty good the only part of the movie that was stupid was that scene with Rodney Rowland's character named Jeff but it's still a pretty cool and fun film and the ending was pretty awesome and it made sense how Vernon played his friends also Sly is great as ever and that's why i'll give it a 10/10.

blanche-2 Gabriel Byrne, Thandie Newton, and Stuart Townsend star in "Shade," a 2003 film with an appearance by Sylvester Stallone and Jamie Foxx.Byrne plays Miller, a grifter who partners with Tiffany (Newton) in various cons. They arrange to work with a third person, a card shark, Vernon (Townsend) and draft a gambler, Jennings (Foxx) to get into a high-stakes poker game with a buy-in of $25,000. They explain that it's rigged, and he's only to make a big bet when Vernon is the dealer.Jennings gets carried away and loses over $80,000 when he ignores what they tell him. One problem. It wasn't his money. It belonged to a mobster.I won't tell you the rest - that basically sets up the story. According to people on this site, if you know anything about poker, you won't enjoy this as much as others."Shade" is an entertaining movie with good performances, particularly by Gabriel Byrne. The script is clever -- it's not unlike anything we've seen before, but it is very well done.Others in the cast include Patrick Bachau, Bo Hopkins, Melanie Griffith, Dina Merrill, and her husband, Ted Hartley, who produced this for their studio, RKO. Stallone, as a famous poker player, is excellent. He was a little distracting to watch because to me he looks so different from the last time I saw him.Recommended -- it's fun and has a good cast.

sol1218 ***SPOILERS*** Overly over-plotted movie about a trio of of card hustlers trying to get a crack at #1 in the card sharp business the legendary Dean himself Dean Stevens, Sylvester Stallone,by being able to get the mechanic of the group Vernon, Stuart Townsend, to get into a private card game with him.the Dean is considered to be so big and unapproachable in the film that we don't get a chance to see him until the movie is almost half over. In fact were not even sure if he exists or not up until then even though his name and exploits are brought up by everyone in the movie until he finally makes his grand appearance. It's a lot like a previous movie that one of the stars in the film Gabriel Byrnes, as street hustler Charlie Miller, was in "The Usual Suspects" in regards to the never seen on screen, until he decided to be seen, Kiser Soza.Finally when getting invited to play the Dean at a private room at the L.A Roosevet Hotel the three hustlers Vernon Miller and his on and off girlfriend Tiffany, Thandie Newton, realize that one of the invited guests is Mob Boss Max Maline, Partick Bauchan! The very person who's got a hit out on them for hustling him out of $82,000.00 through one of their greedy and not so bright marks Larry Foxx, Jamie Foxx, at a fake private card game they set Larry up in.***SPOILERS*** Hot and heavy action at the card table with as much as $2,000,000.00 at stake as Vernon goes head to head with the Dean after all the other players were wiped out in the non-stop card turning twisting and sliding action on the poker table. The Dean in fact had the upper hand on Vernon by being able to see, with his eyes unfocused, his hand due to juiced deck he slipped into the game. Yet for some reason the card that he had covered changed for Vernon from a Seven to a Jack without any explanation in the movie's script! What's even more ridicules is how the Dean was able to pull off the big switch when he could have easily been beaten since he didn't have the highest card in the deck! But still just high enough to beat Vernon's hand! The Dean's success was not because of any kind of luck or card playing skill on his part but that he was in fact a much better cheater in cards then Vernon was!***MAJOR SPOILER*** You finally get to see what happened in the movie, at the big card game, when it was just about over and when your about to turn your DVD or VCR player off. But by then your left so confused in all the twists and turns as well as back stabbings in this very confusing film that you've lost, in trying to follow the movie's plot, all interest in it!