''In the Shadows'' is a 2001 American thriller film written and directed by

Ric Roman Waugh Ric Roman Waugh (born February 20, 1968) is an American film director, writer, producer, actor, and former stuntman. He is known for his work in ''Felon'' (2008), ''Snitch'' (2013), and '' Shot Caller'' (2017). He wrote and directed '' Angel Has ...

and starring

Matthew Modine Matthew Avery Modine (born March 22, 1959) is an American actor and filmmaker, who rose to prominence through his role as U.S. Marine Private/Sergeant J.T. "Joker" Davis in ''Full Metal Jacket''. His other film roles include the title character ...

James Caan James Edmund Caan ( ; March 26, 1940 – July 6, 2022) was an American actor. He came to prominence playing Sonny Corleone in ''The Godfather'' (1972) – a performance which earned him Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Academy Award an ...

Joey Lauren Adams Joey Lauren Adams (born January 9, 1968) is an American actress and director. Adams starred in ''Chasing Amy'', for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and played smaller role ...

Lillo Brancato Lillo Brancato Jr. (born Saul Rodriguez; August 30, 1976) is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Calogero “C” Anello in Robert De Niro's 1993 directorial debut, ''A Bronx Tale.'' He also portrayed Matthew Bevilaqua, a you ...

and

Cuba Gooding Jr. Cuba Mark Gooding Jr. (born January 2, 1968) is an American actor. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Emmy nomination. After his breakthrough role as Tre Styles in ''Boyz n the Hood'' (1991), he appeare ...

It was released in the United States on June 22, 2001. In the film, Modine plays hit man Eric O'Bryne, who is sent to kill veteran Hollywood stuntman Lance Huston (Caan), falls in love with the target's daughter (Adams) and then decides to become a stuntman himself.

Plot

Hit man Eric O'Byrne (Matthew Modine) has orders from the mob: kill Hollywood stunt coordinator Lance Huston (James Caan). In order to make the hit, Eric travels to Miami and ingratiates himself into Lance's world as a stuntman. He also slips into a dangerous romance with Lance's daughter, Clarissa (Joey Lauren Adams). As time draws near to O'Byrne deadly act, he starts to grow a conscience, a development that could be his greatest asset or his fatal weakness.

Reception

DVD Talk DVD Talk is a home video news and review website launched in 1999 by Geoffrey Kleinman. History Kleinman founded the site in January 1999 in Beaverton, Oregon. Besides news and reviews, it features information on hidden DVD features known as ...

rated the film favorably, writing that "Ric Roman Waugh is competent behind the camera for his directorial debut, and the film benefits from a strong cast." ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or t ...

'' was more negative, as they felt that "This overly complicated wise-guy adventure makes good use of the stunt work background. But it falters in the areas of characterization, plot resolution and general narrative credibility."

References

External links

* * * 2001 crime thriller films 2001 films American crime thriller films American mystery films 2000s English-language films Films about stunt performers Films directed by Ric Roman Waugh Films set in Miami Films set in New York City Films shot in Miami 2000s American films {{crime-thriller-film-stub