In his masterful, Academy Award-winning performance, Geoffrey Rush shines as David Helfgott, the real-life Australian concert pianist who suffers an emotional breakdown just as his musical career is about to take off. This passionate film looks at the musician's relationship with his demanding father and his triumphant recovery. With Armin Mueller-Stahl, Noah Taylor and John Gielgud. 105 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; biographies; theatrical trailer.

Average Customer Review: ( 72 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

The real David Helfgott actually contributed as a musician (pianist, of course) for this wonderful film about his life, dramatizing his struggles through his childhood and breakdown as an adolescent. Yet it isn't about gloomy and depressing accounts but about survival and living to the best of one's abilities. Those who have little patience with people who are schizophrenic may become a bit uneasy at the performance of Geoffrey Rush who played the adult Helfgott. Rush's acting was impeccable and very believable, which is why some might be a little agitated or confused at the stuttering and incomplete and rambling dialog by Rush's character.

But have patience in getting to understand Helfgott as the movie progresses. It can confuse the viewer since there are flashbacks and flash forwards. But you know, this was one beautifully produced movie. It has had high replay, because the film simply touches the heart. Just relax and allow the movie (and Helfgott's character) absorb you. By the end, you'll really FEEL how much of a journey that David Helfgott traveled to arrive where he did.

And for those who enjoy Lynn Redgrave, my gosh. Her portrayal of Gillian was superb. Redgrave didn't even get any type of top billing and she didn't appear until late in the movie, yet I felt like Gillian and David were my own family by the end.

The DVD's special features include a movie trailer, a video clip of an award presented to Rush (look for Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise together in the audience) and a somewhat unusually- formatted Q/A with director Scott Hicks (about a dozen questions are displayed and when you select one, a video with an answer by Hicks plays).

"Shine" wasn't meant to be a tearjerker movie, but it got to me. I sometimes can't watch even the trailer without getting a lump in my throat.

Lovers of piano concertos and also those who appreciate classical music would be especially grateful for this cinematic gem.

18 of 19 found the following review helpful:

Triumph of the Soul, Triumph of the CinemaMay 23, 2000
By Jonas Cukierman
One of the greatest stories of overcoming obstacles, Shine is the pinnacle example of good old-fashioned tenacity and persistence in a world that stigmatizes the emotionally needy. Based on the life of Australian Piano virtuoso David Helfgott, the film takes us on a journey of anger, relationships, triumph and forgiveness from beginning to end. After a growing up with an abusive father and suffering a nervous breakdown, Helfgott faces the struggle having been in and out of institutions for the greater part of his life. Trying to piece his life back together he rediscovers his talent and begins to realize the fact he has just as much right to be happy and successful as anybody else. The storyline and director keep the audience open-eyed until the very last moment where we are allowed to witness the subtle but unmistakable climax. Geoffrey Rush, who portrays the role of Helfgott during his adult life, performed all music as seen (no hand doubles) and heard in this exceptional story of the human spirit's capacity to overcome.

8 of 8 found the following review helpful:

Bravo!Feb 27, 2003
By SE
Shine is about dreams, love, failure and success. Young David Helfgott wants to go abroad to study piano and take advantage of a grant he's offered against his father's wishes. The emotional stress ends up crippling his dreams of becoming a famous pianist and spending a good part of his life in a mental institution. This movie is filled with magical scenes with subtle messages like the one where the David's father goes to see him after many years and talks very casually and almost apologetic about trivial things and then leaves as we see him walk down the wet dark streets below from David's point of view. The father's message: "I'm sorry son" and all the images-the wet streets(=tears), the fact that is nighttime (shades of blue- blue means trust, frienship) is all to symbolize the sadness and the love that David's father feels inside but is unable to express verbally to his son. It's a powerfull scene and althought there are no tears on screen the viewer of this movie will provide his own. Shine is great film that takes a different path and stays away from the Holywood formula. Geoffry Rush plays Helfgott as an adult and you should see Rush's work in "Quills" playing opposite Joaquim Phoenix who's one the besy up and coming actors today, and who plays Comodus in the Academy award winning movie "Gladiator".

8 of 9 found the following review helpful:

"SHINE" - For the Most Part, It DoesAug 01, 2005
By R.A. McKenzie
Before I watched this movie yesterday, I knew this was Geoffrey Rush's Oscar-winning performance, that Joel Siegiel considered it to be one the greatest movies ever, and that it won plenty of trophies. But I had no idea what the movie was actually about. I'd seen no trailers and knew very little about the actors' resume (even Rush's movies I can only count to about 10). So I was fortunate to watch this DVD with a fresh perspective.

This is the fall-and-rise (that's not a typo) of David Helfgott, a very gifted pianist who is trained since he was a boy by his deeply disturbed father Peter. Eventually, after enduring unbearable turmoil within the family, teenage Helfgott attends the Royal College of Music, and practiced Ragmaninoff's "Rach 3" (supposedly the most difficult piece in the world) with such determination and focus that he perfected the technique, while the emotional ride eventually broke him. When the movie first introduces us to Helfgott, he is a rambling confused man, who finds his way back into a small Australian restaurant and starts joyfully playing the piano.

If this sounds like another version of "A Beautiful Mind," have no fear. This movie wisely ignores the psychological talk, and focuses on the emotions of the characters. "Shine" does not care about what's going on inside David's mind; instead, we see how his somewhat abusive childhood and unattended confusion affects his interaction with the world around him. The facial expressions tell the story, not doctors' diagnoses (which there is none). Armin Mueller-Stahl's performance as Peter Helfgott is absolutely marvelous. He is a man capable of loving his son, but is so intense (and sometimes violent) that he can't embrace his gifted son the way David needs. John Gielgud gives another great performance as David's College professor, who also pushes David to reach his potential, but with more balance and affection than Peter does. Lynn Redgrave is also excellent as the woman who befriends and helps heal (in a way) David. Geoffrey Rush is terrific in "Shine," but the movie could've better defined him. You see, Rush is kind of the lead role, but we don't really get into his performance until the second half of the movie. We begin "Shine" by seeing this bizarre, over-friendly stranger who wanders into a cafe -- we're supposed to think, "Who is this baffling man?" I actually find Noah Taylor's turn as the teenage David more compelling and moving than Rush's portion of the character. Which is probably why I don't like this movie quite as much as most do.

You see, "Shine" is actually two stories. The first act focuses on the tension between David and Peter. This is very well-executed, because Mueller-Stahl's intensity opposite Taylor's innocence and desperation is absolutely amazing. Even when the two characters aren't together, you can still feel the anger and conflict. David and Peter must have felt those same strong emotions...day after day, night after night.

The second story is Rush's half of the film, when the grown-up David Helfgott is trying to cope with the world now that he is alone. Director Scott Hicks makes it very clear that the people in David's life helped him reassimilate into the world, but what about David's efforts? Instead of feeling genuinely moved, there are times when adult David is used simply as a mentally-damaged man who has difficulty compiling a comprehensive thought. We share the frustration and test-of-patience the characterx feel, but it's almost too effective. When Peter coldly tells his rambling son, "Get to the point," the monstrous antagonist became my hero for a brief moment. The second half of "Shine" is several genres of movies crammed into a hour-length.

Don't get me wrong...this is a well-made movie. There are no plots holes or character inconsistencies whatsoever. Hicks has great control of the camera and wonderful attention to the simplest detail. His timing is dead-on, and listening to his interviews on the DVD merits a second viewing. I just felt that the comeback part of the movie needed more story. This movie is only 105 minutes including credits. With actors like this, I would've gladly taken a 2-hour picture.

However, Rush and Redgrave are still heart-warming in their roles. When the world applauses David's skills in a concert, and we see his tears, we are relieved that pain and suffering have ended...even if for only a brief moment in time. Very few films invoke a stronger sense of hope.

FINAL NOTE - If you're wondering why the movie is called "Shine," Scott Hicks answers that question on the DVD. But you should watch it for yourself, because you'll understand soon enough.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:

All dramas should be made this way.Aug 16, 1999

This should be used as a textbook example of how all dramas should be made. Everything about this film is right, it's moving, the acting is brilliant, it's believable and it doesn't take it's audience for granted. It knows what we hate about usual dramas, usually produced by the sentiment of Hollywood, and avoids them all. Director Scott Hicks shows that he knows how to deal with the development of a particular character when he is played by several actors over a number of decades. He keeps the character flowing and growing believably through the brilliant performances of both Noah Taylor and Geoffrey Rush. Armin Mueller Stahl, as helfgott's father, is also brilliant, and the whole cast are capable. An engaging, moving experience, another example of how Australian cinema is blossoming talent in all areas.

See all 72 customer reviews on Amazon.com