Why is the first- negative- review chosen to be on the main page?

The review is not negative, I thought it was quite balanced and honest. The poster had made good points both for and against the film. IMO, however, he missed the biggest problem with Shifty, in that it has no place being shown on the big screen.
Shifty is clearly a 60 minute TV film streched out to 90mins, but without the addition of anything remotely cinematic to justify it. No memorable scenes or characters, no compeling storyline or narrative, nothing that encourages you to recommend it. While it is a breath of fresh air from the usual dross that British Cinema embarressingly tosses out, that doesnt excuse what is a very uninteresting but well filmed story. The pace and tempo are at least consistant, but with writer and director being one and the same, it is the least you can expect. I also thought that the older-than-dirt plot device of a secretly taped confession, screamed of lazy convienience. All in all, it`s a half decent calling card film, but there is much for Mr Cleevy to learn before he helms or writes another film.

"Come on, Doc. We`re not talking about a band-aid or a tube a Ungentine"

The reviews on the main page vary anyway, probably chosen at random. If you come back at a different time, you will probably get a different one. The one I got certainly rated it higher than 3/10.