Poker has always been a confusing game. Movies likeCasino Royalemake the idea of sitting in fancy rooms, going all in on a bluff, and shocking everyone with a bold move seem tempting. However,Shadegives a new look at the smaller, messier side of poker that is more focused on how you play rather than what you win.Shadefollows a trio of grifters, Vernon (Stuart Townsend),Miller(Gabriel Byrne),and Tiffany (Thandiwe Newton), as they attempt to con their way through high-stakes poker games to get rich and pay off their debts. In the end, it culminates in a showdown betweenSylvester Stallone’s legendary con man/poker player, Dean, and theboy wonder of a card player, Vernon. The worldShadepresents is a fascinating one that allows acolorful cast of characters to reign supreme to keep that world unique and intriguing. Whilst it may be hard to believe at times,Shade’s use of amorality nicely explores the idea of honor, or lack thereof, amongst thieves.
‘Shade’ Delivers a World of Amorality and Betrayal That Is Fascinating To Watch
Shade’s main focus is the art of the con, with Dean describung it as magic during the opening credits. From the start, we are thrown into the world of lies and deceit with the legend of Dean being held up at a mafia poker game whilst trying to cheat. It’s difficult to fathom how characters like Dean, Miller, and Vernon, who are openly known as conmen, are even entertained, yettheir presence underscores the morally dubious nature of this world. Characters in positions of respect and seniorityt, like Malini (Patrick Bauchau), reward dishonesty — inviting Dean to his poker games — while denouncing honesty, as seen when Jennings (Jamie Foxx) goes off script and refuses to cheat.
Flipping this kind of normalized morality helps to make the plot unpredictable. Perhaps the best example of this is the scene where Tiffany reveals she only seduced an annoying partygoer to steal his kidney. Leading up to the reveal, it is only exciting because we can’t believe how quickly this man has folded to Tiffany, and it is even rather comedic. However, the sudden entrance of surgeons effectively summarizes the idea that everyone is working an angle and the floor can drop from underneath you at any moment. This scene also highlights the fact thatthe consequences of everyone’s cons are very real, heightening the tension during the final card game and the Mexican standoff later.
This Crime Thriller With 100% on Rotten Tomatoes Puts Everything on the Line for a Brilliant, Daring Heist
The movie succeeds in turning a mundane part of school into nail-biting suspense.
‘Shade’s Fantastic Cast Is Easily Its Greatest Strength
Shadeshowcases a star-studded cast that could make even a Marvel film sweat at the sheer star power on display, and the movie uses every one of these actors to their best potential. Stallone, Foxx,andRoger Guenveur Smithas Marlo give standout performances that are all so different from each other. From Dean’s business-like professionalism to Larry’s loudmouthed charisma and Marlo’s unsettlingly soft voice, the worldShadeinhabits feels vast and exotic. Coupled with the lack of morality, we see howeveryone is willing to do whatever it takes to make it big in this world of crime and lies. The mind games that occur between Dean and Vernon during the final game feature impressive bits of acting, with Vernon acknowledging Dean’s cheating with respect and approval and Stallone’s Dean bringing every ounce of charisma he has when he shows the young pup that the old dog still has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Overall, 2003’sShadeis a fascinatingneo-noirpiece thatgives a gritty look into the dark world of poker. The movie’s flipped morality keeps us on our toes throughout, as we simply don’t belong in this world and are shocked at some of the consequences that unfold from peoples’ lies. In the end, whether you understand the poker or not, you will understand the acting.Shade’s entire cast give wonderful performances that feel in line with the tone of this world, and their charismatic energies help lift the film above a simple poker game where everyone knows everyone is cheating.
