Shiner

Shiner is a 2018 indie movie that was written and directed by Seo Mutarevic, and stars Kevin Bernhardt, Seya Hug, and Shannon Staller, among others. The movie masterfully explores the hard-knocked world of professional fighting and its underside, providing an alluring narrative that revolves around ambition, family drama, loyalty, and the struggle for success.

In the movie, Kevin Bernhardt graces our screens as Matt Leddo, an over-ambitious, greedy, but ultimately desperate fight promoter looking for the next big name in the world of professional fighting. He operates in Tokyo, where the martial arts scene offers an avenue for his ambitions to come to fruition. However, his past rears its ugly head often, reminding us of his past mistakes and the circumstances that led him to his current predicament.

Enter Happy McBride, portrayed by Rocky legend Burt Young in one of his most robust and captivating performances yet. McBride is Leddo's father, and their relationship can be best described as strained and complicated. McBride was once a great boxing cutman who is now enjoying his twilight years. Instead of overseeing his son's unpredictable world, he runs an old-fashioned gym, helping the less fortunate children of the neighborhood and taking them under his wing. The dichotomy of their father-son relationship provides a compelling emotional backdrop to the narrative.

Seya Hug, who plays Tsu, contestably steals the show as the mercenary of Bernhardt's Leddo. Scouting fighters for Leddo's new venture, Tsu, an orphan who was trained at Happy's gym, becomes the underlying link between the father and son's shared yet separately pursued interests. Watching Tsu reconcile with her loyalty for Leddo and her gratitude towards Happy is an engaging subplot within the film.

Complicating the narrative is the introduction of Shannon Staller's character, Cristi. Cristi is an emotionally complex woman who gets entangled in Leddo's world as his romantic interest, adding yet another layer to the multi-faceted narrative of Shiner.

The movie also features a break-out performance from rising star Seo Mutarevic, who plays Shiner, the next big thing on Tokyo's fight scene. Shiner is portrayed as a menacing, intimidating titan, and the film revolves heavily around his rise and those who wish to profit from it.

Predominantly set in Tokyo, Shiner captures the city's essence by blending its modern, sophisticated skyline with the edgy, dangerous underbelly of its underground fighting scene. The cinematography and direction help create a certain visual ethos that resonates throughout the film – the contrast between contemporary Tokyo and the city's grittier aspects work seamlessly in tandem with the film's central theme of the glitzy, glamorous, but inherently dangerous world of professional fighting.

The movie is filled with dynamic yet crude fight scenes, giving a realistic feel to the hard-knocks world of professional fighting. Additionally, the narrative also analyses the business of pugilism and the blood-thirsty characters that lurk behind the well-curated façade. Exploitation, shady deals, and broken promises are just some of the aspects the film uncovers in this world.

Despite the exciting fighting scenes and gloomy underworld undertones, the crux of Shiner's narrative lies in the delicate exploration of loyalty, ambition, and familial relationships. While the film explores the rollercoaster that is the life of a fight promoter, it also delves into the strained relationship of a father and son, the flip-side of loyalty, and the thorny path to success.

In Shiner, Mutarevic delivers a hard-hitting story full of heart and grit. The performances are memorable, and the cinematography is top-notch. Those who enjoy gritty fight movies with a side of deep emotional exploration would find this movie to be a must-watch.