Don't interfere when you see a dragon roused. Billy “Shiner” Simpson, portrayed by Michael Caine, is preparing for his major boxing promotional event, headlined by his own son, Eddie “Golden Boy” Simpson (Matthew Marsden). However, issues within the family start to create problems, a police inquiry begins to focus on him, and an American promoter is putting pressure on him. Things are going to become complicated. It’s remarkable that a British gangster film starring Michael Caine like *Shiner* isn't more well-known. It's genuinely enjoyable. Caine himself believed that by the year 2000 audiences had seen enough of this kind of British movie, which explains why it didn’t do well in theaters and quickly vanished from stores. Essentially, the film reimagines *King Lear*, set in London with Caine performing at his best. Billy Simpson is a top-tier noir hero; the environment he exists within ultimately overwhelms him. There's betrayal and deceit—violence and letdowns—everywhere, yet he continues forward as if he’ll eventually become the master of his domain. But this is the dark side of London, with dirty bars and dull scenery; the venue hosting Billy’s big night has a depressing atmosphere, complete with old cheese sandwiches and clogged restrooms. Alongside Billy are his two associates, portrayed by Frank Harper and Andy Serkis, who represent different aspects of the same character, each threatening in their own way. Billy’s two daughters, played by Claire Rushbrook and Frances Barber, also embody contrasting traits, displaying differing affections for their father. Martin Landau plays the polished American promoter with a woman at his side and a resentment toward Billy, while Gary Lewis and Kenneth Cranham take on significant roles as individuals entangled in Billy's impending chaos. Caine mentioned that he considers *Shiner* to be part of a series including *Get Carter* and *Mona Lisa*. While it doesn’t reach the level of those films, particularly the exceptional *Get Carter*, it remains respectable company, and fans of those movies should try to find it. 8/10

Source on TMDB