Popular reviews

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  Review by Paul Elliott ★★★½

  Based on the life of pianist prodigy David Helfgott, Shine is a well made and technically accomplished biopic hindered by an over-reliance on a few excessive clichés and some horrendous usage of slow-motion during the important climactic performance. These infestations are a probable venture in it baiting for nominations at the 69th Academy Awards, where it managed to attain seven nominations and walked away with one (Best Actor: Geoffrey Rush).

  The succeeding years haven't been gentle to it either, as a spectrum of factual inaccuracies has emerged from it since its premiere. Still, it's one of the more reasonable examples of a biopic as it incorporates some decent performances and it endeavors to investigate some of the themes which stem from such a remarkable talent. There's furthermore an overarching problem with it's pacing, and the reality is that there are a wealth of potentially compelling scenes omitted as a consequence.

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  Review by Kristian ★★★★★

  What a wonderful movie! This has to be Geoffrey Rush's best so far that reaches one of my favorites "The King's Speech". He is an amazing actor who really shines in the role as David Helfgott. He is really well deserved by the Oscar he won in 1997. But I also think we must not forget David's father Peter (Armin Muller-Stahl) although he plays an unpleasant dad who makes a very difficult ultimatum -if David travels to London to study on a famous music school, he will no longer meet his family again.

  But I also think we must notice how nice the film is with all its little details that make the movie just so wonderful.

  The film gets the highest score 5/5

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  Review by Katalas ★★★★½ 5

  Cecil Parkes: You must play as if there's no tomorrow.

  There is something very unique about Shine, a theme that is studied quite differently from your usual "music genius" film.

  We tend to forget how child prodigies can be manipulated for the benefits of others. David's dad, Peter (performed magnificently by Armin Mueller-Stahl) doesn't seem to care for his child's needs and envies. All that matters for him is to have complete control over his kid, achieving something he could not during his childhood.

  Geoffrey Rush, and Noah Taylor as well, both become David Helfgott, showing not only his talent, but his flaws and weakness. Two underrated actors (at least in my opinion) that show their expertise and accomplish something…

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  Review by Rafael "Parker!!" Jovine ★★★★

  A look into the life of a prodigy, a pianist by the name of David Helfgott, and his battle with mental health and family.

  While I find out most on this film is pretty much a complete lie, I don't think it will be properly to call this a biopic, but rather a very Hollywoodise version of a struggling talented musician.

  That being said, this movie "shines" through thanks to some wonderful performances. From the Oscar winning Rush, who embraces the latter stage of the artist with its mental illness, from the mannerism to speech patterns, it was so great. However, in terms of being effective and hit me really hard, that would have to go to Armin Mueller-Stahl as…

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  Review by Blake Battersby ★★★★

  Dance Moms have nothing on Piano Dads

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  Review by ﾟ✧(｡♡ ‿ ♡｡)･ﾟ✧ ★★★ 2

  like whiplash, but a biopic

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  Review by Lebowskidoo 🍿🛸 ★★★★½

  Geoffrey Rush truly shines in this movie...sorry, but it's absolutely the truth.

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  Review by Daniel Simpson ★★½ 1

  Shine is a musical biopic about mentally troubled pianist David Helfgott (Geoffrey Rush) who eventually overcame adversity in suitably inspiring fashion. That's a pretty glib description, but after seeing so many of these inspirational, Oscar nominated biopics, I tend to know what I'm getting myself into. The film is competently shot and there is a particularly good scene where David is playing to a large audience while simultaneously dealing with growing mental health problems. Geoffrey Rush is also pretty good here, even though he isn't in the film as much I expected.

  The main problem with Shine is that it blows through David's life way too fast and with hardly any structure. I didn't really feel like I got to…

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  Review by Waldo ★★★★★

  Cant believe its been 20 years since Shine. Geoffrey Rush came out nowhere from down under to take the Oscar....by force! The force of his incredible performance as David Helfgott, child prodigy, mental patient and a damaged young man saved by his talent and love for music. Also memorable is Noah Taylor as young David, Armin Muehller Stall as the sonofabitch dad and the late Lynn Redgrave as David's wife. The moments of brilliance are many. The attempt to tackle Rachmaninoff, David walking out of the street into a piano-bar, wet cigarrette hanging from his lip then starts playing like the brilliant pianist that he is and that final concert. The standing ovation and getting his due late in life is a tearjerker. Love this movie.

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  Review by reed 2

  While in many ways Shine plays a by-the-books, cliche, and predictable rise-fall-rise plotline, there are a ton of things to applaud it for. Shine is about passion, and finding love when someone you dearly love(d) has forsaken you.

  I'm not entirely convinced about the ideology of Shine, however. David, as a young kid, plunks out the notes of Rach 3, and his father comes and sits at the piano with him. "One day, you will play this and make me proud", father says. To him, Rach 3 is a symbol of absolute artistic achievement - being able to play the hardest, most complex, thing, is the highest honor. So in the movie, this concerto is a symbol of corrupted passion.…

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  Review by aubrey 🍓 ★★½

  astrology bitches will spend hours analysing your birth chart on their macintosh before replying to your marriage proposal

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  Review by Mac Anthony ★★★★½

  I've actually got quite a cool personal connection to this movie because being a classically-trained pianist myself, my childhood piano teacher was David Helfgott's sister. I grew up and still live in Perth, Australia and was taught by her for a few years as a child. I met David once or twice at her house, was showered in hugs, was able to talk to him, and on one occasion, we were at the piano, where he asked me what piece I was learning. I replied saying "Fur Elise" and he then sat at the piano just a metre in front of me and played the piece for me, with all of his mannerisms. He taught me how to play expressively,…