Some people reviewed this movie as too simple, too predictable. I must admit - I initially decided to watch it only for Joshua Jackson (I also thought it would not be more than 5/10). But I was very surprised. Personally, I love the feeling when you're going to watch a movie you know very little about and don't expect much from and then, halfway through it, you know you've found a little jewel. Not too shiny, not too loud, just a simple, elegant masterpiece. This is how I felt watching this film. Yes, it's a bit predictable but that doesn't change the fact that thoughts in the script are beautiful and universally true, the acting is easy and unforced and the scenery is breathtaking. The time passes very slowly and you get the feeling you're on vacation in Tuscany along with he characters, just sitting on a bench or taking a stroll through the fields... If you're a fan of Ridley Scott's Good Year, I'm sure you're going to love this movie as much as I did. Bon voyage!

The movie is indeed well acted, and there is such a strong emotional theme going on and chemistry between the "old" (Keitel) and the "young" (Jackson) writers. The storyline goes well, the tempo is just fine and it would have been an excellent movie if not for the ridiculous details that had to be inserted just to add some misunderstood credibility for image of Italy in some other parts of the world. Like all the town folks were driving fiat Toplino and Jackson arrived on a BMW Z4 model 2004. Or that there were no young people or kids in the village and there was only one scene where Forlani is talking to anybody else than people tree times her age. Come on, this is Italy! If anybody is that hot as Forlani, Jackson will have very hard time trying to get her attention. But this was tolerable, until the last scene where we see Jackson depart on a steam train! I guess such kind of trains do exist somewhere in the world, but in Italy, home of the "Pendolino" trains that travel 200+ km/h such transportations is long forgotten. I would have given 8 if not for those silly scenes...

**CONTAINS SPOILERS THROUGHOUT**I watched the DVD of 'Shadows In The Sun', formerly known as 'The Shadow Dancer'. Because 'Shadows In The Sun' is a much better name and makes complete sense.Josh Jackson is a hotshot young publishing executive - the best kind! His boss, who is Gimli, sends him to Italy to track down an eccentric, reclusive author who hasn't written anything for 20 years, since his wife died. Josh goes to Italy and gets a hotel in a tiny, remote Tuscan village where everybody speaks enough English to tell him that no, they haven't heard of this author. But it turns out that they're all protecting him because they know he hates hotshot young publishing executives! Josh, because he's clever and tenacious, finds him and he's Harvey Keitel, acting all crazy. But Josh sees through Harvey's cunning ruse (guess what – he is Not Really Crazy) and begs him to sign a contract and write another book, because he should, because he's brilliant! Harvey tells him to GO AWAY. He sets his dog on him and pretends to throw him in a lake, because he's so eccentric and free-spirited. But then they start to form a grudging friendship, after Harvey trashes Josh's rental car and they end up in prison a couple of times, because that's how all real friendships start.Meanwhile Josh meets Harvey's daughter, who is Claire Forlani (he has two other daughters, Goth Daughter and Hat Daughter, who serve no discernible purpose other than being Not As Beautiful As Claire Forlani) with-a an outrageous-a Italian-a accent-a, even-a though her father is-a American-a. He tells her the real reason he wants Harvey to write again is that Harvey's book 'The Shadow Dancer' (not 'Shadows In The Sun', which would be a stupid title) changed his life when he was 12. Claire says he should have told Harvey that. Josh agrees, but then for some reason he never does tell him. Claire says that despite what Harvey says, he does want to write again, but he's afraid. Possibly that his typewriter will turn into a giant scary cockroach thing like in 'Naked Lunch'. Needless to say a giant scary cockroach thing would have improved this movie immeasurably.Anyway it turns out that Josh wants to be a writer as well, so Harvey teaches him to use words other than "the" and "it" and "and" to describe things, because this is a basic skill writers need. He also tells him that he needs experience to draw on and he tries to provide some for him, including punching Josh in the stomach and getting him to do karaoke. Harvey also gets naked and Josh is horrified, which presumably doesn't require much acting. Josh buys a nasty waistcoat at the market and starts to learn Italian from Claire, even though everyone speaks English in the remote Tuscan village. Because he's very subtle, the first words he asks Claire to translate into Italian are "beautiful", "lips" and "kiss". Josh tells Harvey that he knows he wants to write again and he should stop hiding behind his DEAD WIFE!! After punching him and crying a bit, Harvey agrees to write again, and Josh gets to sleep with Claire, although without any proper nudity because that would be tasteless. Afterwards she tells him it was just a one-night thing, and he gets drunk and nearly cries, and then he has to leave. Harvey says Josh should stay, seeing as he has no family, doesn't really like his job, should live somewhere inspiring if he wants to be a writer, and OMG London (where he lives) is like so totally lame compared to Tuscany! But Josh says he just can't. So he leaves on a steam train, because Harvey doesn't just live in Italy, he lives in Italy in the 1890s! Then there's some nonsense about a bird and a horse, and Josh pulls the emergency cord to stop the train, for which there is probably a €75 fine, and he gets off and kisses Claire even though she was totally mean to him five minutes before, and they all live happily ever after… in the shadows in the sun, I guess.

Even though the film is labeled as a romantic comedy, the main argument of the story is not the romance between the characters, but the relationship between the older writer and the younger writer. The romance that happens in the story is just a bonus. This made it enjoyable for my husband (who hates romantic comedies and will never watch them with me). So, guys, if you want to get on your girlfriend's / wife's good side, rent this movie and offer to watch it with them. Yes, it is a beautiful picture, and yes, people kiss, but the movie is more than that.For those who would like to explore the situation between the two writers, look into something called the "homosocial" by Sedgwick (has nothing to do with "homosexuality"). This movie is a good example of that.The dance scene is just breathtaking (guys, take note). They never take their eyes off each other without missing a beat (of course it is just a movie), but imagine that in real life, with the love of your life. Can you imagine the "making love" afterward?! I wish they had done the party scene a bit longer. As another person suggested, it would have been great to tie the comment made earlier in the movie about dancing with this scene. It sounds as if he was not a good dancer and then to dance like that; the movie needs something to tie the two situations. And yes, the movie does have its small problems, but overall it is a good movie and nice to watch. I was not a fan of Joshua Jackson, I liked watching Dawson's Creek every once in a while, but that was it. I think he has "blossomed" into a very handsome man. I believe he can handle bigger roles. I am so glad he left the teenage-type films behind. I wish I could find a guy that looked like that! (I hope my husband doesn't read this!) Does anyone know exactly where in Italy did they shoot the scene of the final confrontation between Joshua Jackson's and Harvey Keitel's characters? It looks like hot springs or something, but you can tell that is not hot water. That place is absolutely beautiful and looks very refreshing! When I go to Italy I want to go there but I would like to have the name of the place so I can ask.