The first thing that struck me about this movie is the RKO Pictures logo. It's something I associate with some of the classics of cinema, like Citizen Kane (1941), but I'd never seen it on a contemporary film. To see a new, enhanced version of the logo, with the familiar beeps of the radio signal, was quite exciting and raised my expectations for this straight-to-video release. It didn't let me down. A stylish production, overshadowed at the time of its release by the similarly themed, and higher profile, Confidence (2003), Shade was an ambitious production with a great cast, as many modest star names as an independent film could wish for, and 2.35: 1 aspect ratio cinematography. Shade is an ensemble film. Two Irish actors, one up and coming and the other an old school favourite, with proved track records in a string of Hollywood projects, lead this L.A. lensed tale of double crossing card sharks. Jamie Foxx and Thandie Newton add notable support, but it's Melanie Griffith and Sylvester Stallone the stand out the most, the latter casting a tremendous shadow over his co-stars. With the aid of his own personal make-up artist, hair stylist and costumer, Stallone makes his character of "The Dean" stand out from the rest of the cast. His skin pale, his lips a bold red, his hair streaked with grey; Stallone reminds us of a classical style of performance, evoking memories of Cary Grant or Dean Martin. Proving once again why his career has had such longevity. One of the best films of its type, this light-hearted thriller, which owes a clear debt to the classic The Sting (1973), features great performances from all the principles, as well as fun supporting roles for Hal Holbrook, Bo Hopkins, Michael Dorn and B-Real from Cypress Hill. Without wishing to elaborate on the plot, the non- linear narrative requires close attention and the twists never fail to amuse.
