Review of Shine (1996) by Gareth J — 23 May 2008

Ausiralian cinema is a strange entity. Whilst the majority of its offering turn out be unspeakable failures (often through no fault of their own) there are also numerous examples which turn out to be pure gold (eg.

The Proposition, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Strictly Ballroom). Shine, I'm very happy to say falls firmly into that latter category. Despite lacking much the cinematic gravitas of Baz Luhrman or the shock factor of John Hillcoat, director Scott Hicks succeeds in creating a touching masterpiece of realism and heartacher.

This is largely attributed to the three lead actors: Geoffrey Rush Noah Taylor and Armin Mueller-Stahl. Taylor and Rush both do an excellent job of portraying tortured and abused child prodege David Hilthgott in his struggles to achieve greatness as a pianist in a world filled with hatred and pain and it was no doubt these performances which cemented their respective careers.

This is particularly the case with Rush who plays David in adulthood who after years of stress, neglect and electro shock therapy has been reduced to an incoherent mumbling mental patient whose focus can only be re-centred through music and love.

This is not to take away the revision of veteran Mueller-Stahl's selfish, cruel father who displays a versatility for switching between harsh brutality and false sentiment. In short order, Shine succeeds because it is able to do what is required of any good biopic: send its viewers on an emotional roller-coaster ride and leave them feeling cathartic at the end.