Occasionally, a film which practically no one has ever heard of makes its way to dvd, and surprises viewers lucky enough to stumble upon it, with its power.  “SHINER,” released by BUENA VISTA, is just such a film!

Michael Caine stars as Billy “Shiner” Simpson, a small-time crook, and on one specific day in his life, various relationships, dreams and schemes are all being juggled with a dizzying speed.  “Shiner” has managed to finagle a boxing match between his good looking son, and an American boxer, managed by Martin Landau.  Shiner is betting his future on this fight, believing he has enough deals in place to  provide a his son with a chance at Hollywood stardom after the fight, keep the law off his back, and mend things between his feuding daughters, one of whom is cooperating with police trying to nail him.

The fact that events are all unfolding within a short period of time, and at a rapid pace, helps the film’s atmosphere reminiscent of the classic gangster film, “LONG GOOD FRIDAY,” and it’s just as good.

Director John Irvin moves the film along at a breakneck pace, and even with so many balls in the air at one time, he manages to bring everything together in a cohesive manner by the film’s end.

The performances are outstanding!  Caine is always great, and Martin Landau “shines” here as well!  One of many great things about “SHINE” is that the film manages to remain so captivating, in spite of the fact that its main character, “SHINER” is completely unsympathetic.

BUENA VISTA has preserved the film’s 2.35:1 aspect ratio, with 16:9 enhancement.  The colors are solid, and the film has an intentionally gritty look, making the infrequent grain acceptable. Contrast is excellent, with deep blacks and grays.   Fleshtones appear natural throughout.

The Dolby Digital surround mix is generally restrained, however, it comes to life during the magnificent boxing sequences. Most directional effects are focused towards the front soundstage. Dialogue is always intelligible and free from distortion.  Some may find the English subtitles useful, as certain phrases are hard to understand due to the dialect.