Category: Shade

We’ve been hearing a lot of really good things about “Shade.” Not only has the movie betting getting good advance buzz, but Sly‘s work as well. Up until now, though, nobody had seen the film. Ain’t It Cool‘s Moriarty has seen the film and has posted a positive review of it — especially Sly‘s work. Here’s a brief look at what he has to say:

“STALLONE IS MADE IN SHADE!!

What is it about Sylvester Stallone?
I’ve long since given up on the idea that ‘80s action icon Ahnold is ever going to set aside his pursuit of the filthy lucre in exchange for doing smaller, more daring films. He might make good movies in the future, but he’s never going to really take a chance again. It’s just not the way that particular Terminator is programmed.
But every time I’m about to give up on Stallone for similar reasons (I mean, my god, did you actually SEE the abomination that was DRIVEN?!), he turns around and does something that keeps him interesting and relevant. COPLAND may not have been a great movie, but it was sincere and smart, and Stallone was quite affecting in his role. Now, a few years and several largely unreleased films (D-TOX, AVENGING ANGELO) down the road, Stallone’s pulled another ace out of his sleeve in the form on this clever little con game written and directed by newcomer Damian Neiman.”
You gotta love a review that starts out like that and ends with: ” ..SHADE delivers all the way to its last twists and turns, with performances that really crackle (special mention must go to Stallone, once again, who embodies a particular sort of Old World charm) and a low-key wit that never strains, that never seems to work too hard…”

Man, now I really can’t wait for Shade [co-starring Gabriel Byrne, Thandie Newton, and Melanie Griffith] to be released. For Moriarty‘s complete review click HERE.

– Craig Zablo
(October 19, 2002)

It’s in the cards: Griffith hustled into ‘Shade’ role Mon May 27, 7:13 PM ET by Zorianna Kit LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) — Melanie Griffith has joined the cast of RKO Pictures/Merv Griffin Entertainment’s crime thriller “Shade” for first-time writer-director Damian Nieman. Production begins Thursday in Los Angeles. “Shade” is set in the world of poker hustlers working the clubs and martini bars of Los Angeles. The tale unfolds as the hustlers — Thandie Newton, Stuart Townsend and Gabriel Byrne — encounter “The Dean” (Sylvester Stallone) and pull off a successful sting that results in their pursuit by a vengeful gangster. Jamie Foxx also stars as a man who wants to become a hustler but ends up getting hustled. Griffith will star as a Stallone‘s ex-flame who rekindles her romance with him when he arrives in the city. RKO chairman and CEO Ted Hartley is producing with Hammond Entertainment’s David Schnepp and Chris Hammond. Merv Griffin and Joe Nicolo will executive produce with actor Bo Hopkins, who also is in the film. Cobalt Media Group’s Peter Rogers and Ralpho Borgos are handling international sales. “Shade” will mark the second RKO-related project for Griffith, who starred as Marion Davies in the 1999 HBO feature “RKO 281,” about the battle between William Randolph Hearst and Orson Welles over the 1941 feature film “Citizen Kane,” which was produced by RKO, at that time known as RKO Radio Pictures Inc. Griffith, repped by WMA, was nominated for a best actress Oscar for her role in “Working Girl.” She next voices a character in Columbia Pictures’ “Stuart Little 2” and stars in the indie feature “Tempo” opposite Rachael Leigh Cook. – Craig Zablo [May 31, 2002]

Thriller ‘Shade’ hustles cast for dealer Nieman
Tue May 14, 2:16 AM ET by Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) — Sylvester Stallone, Thandie Newton, Gabriel Byrne and Stuart Townsend will star in RKO Pictures’ crime thriller “Shade” from first-time writer-director Damian Nieman. Production begins May 30 in Los Angeles.

“Shade” is set in the world of poker hustlers working the clubs and martini bars of Los Angeles. The tale unfolds as the hustlers — Newton, Townsend and Byrne — encounter “The Dean” (Stallone) and pull off a successful sting that results in their pursuit by a vengeful gangster.

RKO chairman and CEO Ted Hartley is producing with Hammond Entertainment’s David Schnepp and Chris Hammond. Merv Griffin and Joe Nicolo will executive produce with actor Bo Hopkins, who also will appear in the film.

“It’s been a long time since there has been a cool L.A. movie; we hope this film does for modern Los Angeles what ‘L.A. Confidential’ did for 1950s Los Angeles,” Hammond said. He said that the producers plan to feature numerous local landmarks in the film, including the Argyle Hotel, the Magic Castle and the Roosevelt Hotel.

Hammond said the project takes its roots in an underworld that very much exists in Los Angeles today.

“There is a network of card hustlers and gamblers who use sleight of hand and card manipulation to get what they want,” he said. “Damian is a former top-card ‘mechanic’ and is drawing on his own personal knowledge for this film.”

Said Hartley: “I could not think of a better group of talented actors coming together on this RKO picture. I believe this will be the first of a number of truly exciting pictures that RKO will produce this year. We all fell in love with Damian Nieman‘s screenplay with its colorful cast of characters.”

Cobalt Media Group’s Peter Rogers and Ralpho Borgos will handle international sales for the film, which debuts on their sales slate at this month’s Festival de Cannes.

– Craig Zablo (May 14, 2002)