ThiefHott
Too much of everything
Lovesusti
The Worst Film Ever
Ella-May O'Brien
Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
Haven Kaycee
It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film
Un Zievereir
Not a lover of Erik Van Looy's output, even for him this really is terrible. Mickey Rourke's presence in crap b movies is not unusual, but this is the worst I have seen him in. Erik Van Looy has seemingly made a career based on plastic TV crimi films posing as gritty thrillers on the big screen. His films appeal to the modern desire for low brow entertainment to parade as something more realistic and intelligent.Despite the mediocrity, his films are generally successful among his fellow Flemish, even making waves beyond the Dutch speaking world. "Loft", probably his most successful film, seems to have even suffered a Hollywood remake."Shades" is unwatchably dull and poor. Mr. Van Looy is probably more at home as a TV show host rather than working in cinema.
alaindemol
The first (and only) time I saw "Shades" was during a Sneakpreview. It hadn't even been in premiere. I remember there was someone of the directors staff there, don't even remember who. It was a Belgian movie, we never heard of it, so we were quite neutral, not knowing what to expect. Mickey Rourke is a brilliant actor and he's stands miles ahead all the rest. He plays an actor who's star has long stopped rising. He's helping to realise a movie in Belgium entitled "Shades".As soon as the movie started, we noticed how much swearing there is. Nothing against the occasional swear word. However this was way beyond annoying. Whenever Rourke uses the F*** word to express something, it comes naturally. However, when someone from the cast, a non-English speaker uses the F**** or S*** word, it becomes arrogant and aggressive.We quickly lost count of how many times they used the F and S words. Everybody was just glad to be out of the theatre. And we had to give a vote, but it was hard for us because it was only from 0 to 10, and we were looking for the -10.
PeteGraham
The film stars Mickey Rourke as a director on a foreign low-budget flick, that covers the story of a famous serial killer. Things get messy and interesting when the media, co-producers, and the real serial killer want a piece of the action. There is some good acting and the movie has this artificial light which works really well in this kind of movie in movie concept.
Joyce Hauchart
The cast is great, directing and acting are sublime, Rourke plays himself, including dog. The sound track is even better. The dialogues are in Flemish and English, but after 10 minutes you forget this detail and the language sounds real.Great story, a movie within a movie. Anyone who has ever been on a set will recognize the plot, subplots etc.Why did this movie flop? Nobody made faults, not the director, not the actors etc. The main problem is the story line. Who is the bad guy and who is the good guy. They all seem equal. You can't identify yourself with Howard, Bervoets or Decleir.Great movie, but no box office.
