The Specialist

Really enjoying director Ric Roman Waugh's 'Shot Caller' made me look into his back catalog and with it's cast 'In the Shadows' certainly stood out. I read some spoiler free reviews and tried to keep an open mind. Can't deny there was some parts I really enjoyed, but also can't escape the plot felt too large in scope and unable to bring it all together at the end in a real solid satisfying manner.

Jimmy (Lillo Brancato Jr.) son of a revered NYC mobster does stunt work on the side for movies shot in Miami. When he's down there to do both a mob deal, stunts the latter goes wrong and he's killed. Mob boss wants vengeance and blames the highly skilled stuntman turned stunt coordinator Lance (James Caan) who he wants dead. Now Eric (Matthew Modine) not only a trusted hitman, but friend of Jimmy gets the job. However once he's down there awaiting a green light to do the hit, he falls in love with Lance's daughter Clarissa (Joey Lauren Adams). Then gains a taste for stunt work himself and a mentor in her father.

Modine with slick looking but obvious dyed hair is able to navigate the emotional arch the role requires. Caan steals the screen in scenes (his effortless charm) and Adam's role really pulls at your heartstrings as a pediatrician doctor looking after children dying due to cancer. Brancato who delivered nicely in 'A Bronx Tale' & 'Sopranos' has a very small role much like Cuba Gooding Jr largely involving side-plots that honestly aren't that interesting and only clutter up the story.

'Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood' & 'The Fall Guy' very recently has brought in a new wave of films focusing on stuntmen and either lightly or heavily basing it on their work. Of course 'The Stunt Man' in the 80's bears mention too. Maybe if 'In the Shadows' was more about that and it's likable characters it could have been better. Dangling plot threads about the mob are not just cliche, but also very boring. Of course a bum ending doesn't help too.

"In The Shadows" tells of a hitman with a conscience (Modine) who becomes a stuntman because this dumdass flick wouldn't work if he didn't. Ill-conceived, sophomorically contrived, poorly written, and poorly directed, this flick is long of atmospherics and short on everything else. One can only watch and wonder how Caan, Adams, Modine, and Gooding climbed aboard such a shabby project. A waste of time for all but diehard fans of the principals and maybe people with some interest in film stunts. (D+)

No ensemble or great individual actors; a horrible screenplay, and a cliched premise...put them together and you don't even have a half of a B movie.

For anyone over 18, this is like a trip to the dentist.

Grade it as an F.

I saw this movie on Showtime one afternoon. It is a really good movie all things considered. I enjoyed Matthew Modine in a darker role than he normally has. James Caan was great acting self as stuntman Lance Huston. Joey Lauren Adams was well cast in her role as Clarissa, Lance's daughter. Lillo Brancato who I loved in Bronx Tale, seemed to be going through the motions. I didn't find Cuba Gooding Jr. a good fit for his role as a Draven the undercover cop. The movie is a little slow at first but it comes around in the end. I liked the ending, though most romantics might not. If you have the chance to see it I would recommend doing so. I give this movie a 7.5 out of 10.

I think we sometimes forget that the point in watching movies is to be entertained. I too, have often been guilty of cynicism in my assessment of what I have seen. This movie was predictable with the exception of the slight twist at the end but it was very entertaining. James Caan has the ability to dominate any scene he is in. Matthew Modine's role was refreshing and he played it with a flair. Most actors, unless they are Director and Producer, are not responsible for what actually makes it to the screen. They are probably lots of great movies that were left on the cutting room floor. The mobster in this movie were smoky, shady and pretty much deserved what they got. The key word though is entertainment and this movie fit the bill. RAM