Shine

A classic biopic about a strange genius, one would like to say after reading the content... But it's a mistake. Luckily! Shine is an unusual spectacle in several ways. I was mainly interested in the different non-Hollywood presentation of the story - the script didn't automatically make me feel sympathy for the main character, didn't make me hate David's father, didn't lead me to anything, didn't try to wring tears from me. On the contrary, it left everything to my discretion to make my own picture and keep watching. Very refreshing. The other unusual thing is Geoffrey Rush's performance. He appears in the film for some forty minutes in total, yet his performance is so masterful that there can be no doubt that his role is the main one. In short, it shines. And last but not least, I can't ignore the direction, because I will probably never forget the scene with Rachmaninov's concerto. (2015-07-11)

I saw the film Shine once at a school screening, probably just on the TV in the classroom, but even back then, it left a strong impression on me. That was repeated on my second viewing. Both Geoffrey Rush and Noah Taylor, as well as Armin Mueller-Stahl, deliver performances in an absolutely captivating manner that strikes deep. (2016-03-23)

An incredible film about a pianist who was driven beyond normal by music. This riveting opus by the brilliant Geoffrey Rush is not just some neat "unfortunate genius" scheme that has been on display a lot lately - it's a story that has the gift of tearing down the most common human things. Art is a sacrifice. Sometimes too cruel. (2004-02-14)

A very compelling biographical drama based on top-notch performances, not only by Oscar-winning Geoffrey Rush, but also by the young Noah Taylor and the excellent Armin Mueller-Stahl. On the subject of "how to make a musical genius with a hard hand and what price it will exact", Shine is a bit of a precursor to the thriller Whiplash, though it approaches the material in a much more conventional and restrained way, which I don't see as a bad thing. There is really very little to fault. [KVIFF 2022] (2022-07-23)