Shade

       Three poker hustlers want to go from small time to big time.  But to do that in L.A. they will have to find a way to beat the best, The Dean (Sylvester Stallone). But the path there holds a few glitches, deaths, and test in trust for the three. As the night approaches it will come down to who can keep their cool and who is the best hustler.

With a cast like Sylvester Stallone, Gabriel Byrne, and Melanie Griffith you expect a certain quality and you get it. Stuart Townsend gives an excellent performance and holds his own. The story is not new; but it still holds some twists. There are plenty of card tricks to amuse you and the story keeps moving. If you love card tricks check out the featurette “Tricks of the Trade” to see things you would swear weren’t real. This movie is sure to please anyone who loves cards, poker, and hustling movie and deserved more credit than it got in theaters.