Cardsharps, grifters, gangsters and shady women mix it up in Damien Nieman's surprisingly entertaining "Shade," a dramatic thriller with a large cast playing the hell out of some very juicy roles. Nieman's script shuffles nimbly among an array of colorful characters and offers unexpected twists that keep you off-balance. The film is shot around Los Angeles, a town that looks familiar yet strange as hot spots and hotels take on a retro look -- somewhere between Damon Runyon and film noir.

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