Shine

Name: Shine
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance, Music
Released: November 20, 1996
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 87
Cast: Armin Mueller-Stahl, Geoffrey Rush

1996

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 25 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 62 Ratings

See All

8.2

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.2	Your Score
8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 62 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Shine

Now Playing: Shine

Movie Details & Credits

Fine Line Features | Release Date: November 20, 1996 | PG-13

Starring: Armin Mueller-Stahl, Geoffrey Rush

Summary: Inspired by the troubled but ultimately triumphant life of classical pianist David Helfgott, Shine focuses on Helfgott's painful retreat into a private world while still in his early 20's and on the brink of a glittering international career. Spanning the 1950's to the 1980's, Shine dramatizes the deeply moving way in which Helfgott, afterInspired by the troubled but ultimately triumphant life of classical pianist David Helfgott, Shine focuses on Helfgott's painful retreat into a private world while still in his early 20's and on the brink of a glittering international career. Spanning the 1950's to the 1980's, Shine dramatizes the deeply moving way in which Helfgott, after a decade of obscurity, achieves both personal and professional fulfillment through the love and support of a remarkable woman. (Fine Line Features)… Expand

Director: Scott Hicks

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Romance, Music

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 105 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Stanley Kauffmann

If this weren't a true story, who would believe it? Well, a good many of us, probably. First, it's the kind of exceptional circumstance we like to dwell on as proof that pessimists are wrong; second, Shine is markedly well made, therefore persuasive. [Nov. 18, 1996]

100

Michael Wilmington

All but sweeps you away with its dazzling technique and shattering emotion. [27 November 1996, Tempo, p.1]

TNT RoughCut Andy Jones

A deeply affecting allegory that explores the symbiotic relationship between genius and madness.

Ann Hornaday

Hard to take in its particulars. Read full review

Keith Phipps

Memorable, deeply affecting movie. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Fortunately, Hicks's direction has an elegance and dignity that rescue Shine from the exploitative and give the film an acute, genuinely sensitive style. Read full review

G. Allen Johnson

The movie is meant to be uplifting and to the degree that you can ignore its unquestioning treatment of mental illness, I suppose it is. Read full review

SEE ALL 25 REVIEWS

Write a Review

Negative:

User Reviews

DawdlingPoet

Nov 20, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I found the story very interesting, quite sad but certainly (to me anyway) quite fascinating. I've always had a passion for music and wish I could play, being quite a creative person, if I do say so myself. I've also seen a fair few film depictions of people who are brought up in strict households with what you could call stage parents and who struggle with belonging, identity and adolescence in general in teen years. The fact that the film is based on a true story made me even more interested to see how things played out (pardon the slight pun).

The parents come across as both harsh and suspicious towards others who show a keen interest in David's musical talent, as well as protective and perhaps nurturing. Initially I was in two minds about who ultimately had David's best interests at heart, given worries about potential exploitation and so on but I won't go in to any detail here. I felt the characters were portrayed particularly well, as it all seemed very raw, gritty and just realistic somehow. I felt a mix of emotions for David but primarily sadness for the predicament he found himself in. He clearly had certain issues which weren't being properly addressed, were overlooked or ignored, obviously to his detriment. David appears and sounds a very introverted, sensitive man, trying to find his place and come to terms with the hand he's been dealt, you could say. Cast wise, Geoffrey Rush portrays David as an adult, who comes across as somewhat of a stooped, unassuming man, who is ignored by many until he's put in front of a piano. Davids father is played by Armin Mueller-Stahl, who comes across as both very protective and very strict.

There is, unsurprisingly, a lot of piano instrumentation played during the film, which helps to lift, if briefly, the tone of the rather sombre themes it covers (those of perfectionism, abuse, expression via the creative arts perhaps?). I this was a very thought provoking film, it didn't come across to me as a big budget Hollywood-style film - for one, its an Australian film, having been filmed and most likely financed in Australia and so on but it doesn't really consist of big breathtaking panoramas, no special effects or the like. In a way it has a semi-documentary feel to it. There are a mix of uplifting moments and scenes and more almost suffocating ones, if that makes any sense.

I felt this film had a lot of heart about it, it felt like a very raw, quite tense and certainly a gritty depiction of one mans battle with his superior talent. Among the emotions I felt while watching this film were worry, joy and sadness. I feel that this film covers some sensitive areas (see the themes I've already mentioned in passing earlier on) and it does so quite well. Content wise, there are some moderately disturbing scenes, where violence is hinted at, although there is no real graphic violence and only mildly strong language used. Sex scenes are mildly hinted at, although again nothing graphic is shown. As far as plot pace is concerned, I didn't feel that the story at any point felt like it was dragging, that the plot was dragging on too long or becoming in any way 'stale'. It has a total running time of around about an hour and three quarters, so its not an especially long film - well, by today's standards anyway. I suppose it covers a fair bit of ground in such a relatively short amount of time.

Its a bit hard to explain exactly why this is the case, without including at least minor spoilers (which I always try my best to avoid) but it felt like the sort of film that would stay with me for a fair while after watching it. It has a powerful emotional side to it and thats what makes it quite gripping, mainly in the characterisation I suppose I'd say, if quizzed. You can hear the emotion, the personal expression that David works so hard to put across in his piano recitals, which is touching in as much as he's quite a reserved and (as I already mentioned) introverted individual. I suppose you could also say that its quite a claustrophobic film in a way. I apologise if you feel I'm giving too much away in terms of (hopefully mild) spoilers and the like, I do try to avoid those but as I say its hard to express my opinions and otherwise review such a film, without covering certain ground. I certainly found this to be both a gripping and emotional watch all in all and I feel the film was well made.

Yes, of course I'd recommend it. I feel this film did very well at portraying such an individual as David, with both his personal issues and superior musical talent, plus his difficult background and upbringing. It is quite an emotional watch, it has some uplifting scenes and some upsetting scenes. Its also quite thought provoking and covers some sensitive themes, such as perfectionism and introverted self expression, very well.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GeorgeM.

Sep 15, 2005

Deep, full of love, perfectly acted and brings up the question: who is really insane?

0 of 0 users found this helpful

EpicLadySponge

Apr 7, 2016

Shine really shines. No one can ever explain how Shine is a great movie unless they have actually watched the entire movie from opening logos to ending credits. Talk back to me to tell if Shine is great or not.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

nutterjr

Nov 1, 2011

Geoffrey Rush is phenomenal in this movie, the kind of performance that turns this into a must see film and deservedly won an Oscar among other accolades. Armin Mueller-Stahl is also brilliant and although outshone by Rush, still deserves a mention.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FranzHcritic

Aug 23, 2013

The story is slightly tepid, which adds the interest. But Geoffrey Rush, man he's f***ing amazing! This is dead on to the real dude, I mean that oscar was deserved! That's all I can describe it as. DEAD F***ING ON!.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Jan 25, 2013

Just when I thought I had most of the best "biographical dramas" accounted for, "Shine" comes out of left field and gloriously sideswipes me with its beautifully inspiring story, provocative structure, and its manifestly perfect performance from Geoffrey Rush.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Jan 4, 2017

C'est l'histoire d'un Rain man virtuose du piano, victime dans sa jeunesse d'un père despotique et paranoïaque, un brave garçon devenu Rain man à l'insu de son plein gré, à moitié bègue, agité, hyperactif et piano-compulsif à ses heures perdues.

Mais tout va mieux, car comme dans Rain man,C'est l'histoire d'un Rain man virtuose du piano, victime dans sa jeunesse d'un père despotique et paranoïaque, un brave garçon devenu Rain man à l'insu de son plein gré, à moitié bègue, agité, hyperactif et piano-compulsif à ses heures perdues.

Mais tout va mieux, car comme dans Rain man, des gens gentils s'occupent de lui -en dehors des hommes en blanc je veux dire- et malgré ses tics et ses tocs (comme se balader à poil sous l'imper -cf l'affiche qui vous résume le film en une image) il mène presque une existence normale et semble négocier un retour à la réalité si l'on peut dire.

Bref, comme Rain man, le film est niaiseux et sirupeux ; il serait également très ennuyeux ou plutôt totalement ennuyeux et sans grand intérêt s'il n'était centré sur la musique, la grande musique bien entendu, et notamment le magnifique Concerto N°3 de Rachmaninov dont Rain man nous joue de nombreux extraits.

Après Prokofiev, Rachmaninov est en effet l'un des compositeurs les plus difficiles à jouer et y parvenir est un vrai défi. C'est l'occasion de voir évidemment un véritable prodige soumettre le piano et en faire de l'art et de l'or à l'état pur. Cela ne sauve pas le film mais ça aide à faire passer.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 8 REVIEWS

3	#3 Best Movie of 1996
47	#47 Most Discussed Movie of 1996
33	#33 Most Shared Movie of 1996