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Shine (1996)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 8/10
Reviews Counted: 33
Fresh: 30 | Rotten: 3

Featuring a strong performance from Geoffrey Rush, Shine succeeds in telling a compelling, inspirational story without resorting to cheap sentimentality.

100

Average Rating: 8.7/10
Critic Reviews: 8
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 0

Featuring a strong performance from Geoffrey Rush, Shine succeeds in telling a compelling, inspirational story without resorting to cheap sentimentality.

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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 29,316

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Movie Info

The true story of a gifted Australian piano prodigy, this biographical drama was nominated for seven Oscars, with actor Geoffrey Rush winning for Best Actor. Rush stars as David Helfgott, a pianist with a history of mental problems. As a fragile boy genius at math, chess, and piano, David is driven hard by his overbearing father (Armin Mueller-Stahl), a tyrant who forbids him to accept a scholarship offered by the great violinist Isaac Stern. Although he studies briefly in London under tutor

PG-13, 1 hr. 45 min.

Musical & Performing Arts, Drama

Directed By: Scott Hicks

Written By: Scott Hicks, Jan Sardi

In Theaters: Nov 20, 1996 Wide

On DVD: Jul 15, 1997

New Line Home Entertainment

Shine Trailer & Photos

Cast

Armin Mueller-Stahl
Peter Helfgott
Noah Taylor
Teenage David Helfgott
Geoffrey Rush
Adult David Helfgott
Lynn Redgrave
Gillian Helfgott
John Gielgud
Prof. Cecil Parks
Googie Withers
Katharine Susannah Pric...
Nicholas Bell
Ben Rosen
Randall Berger
Isaac Stern
Robert Hands
Robert
Chris Haywood
Sam
Edwin Hodgeman
Soviet Society Secretar...
Paul Linkson
State Champion Announce...
John Martin
Roger Woodward (older)
Brenton Whittle
Announcer
Mark Warren
Ray
John Cousins
Jim Minogue
Phyllis Burford
Synagogue Secretary
Daphne Grey
Society Hostess
Mark Lawrence
Musician
Sonia Todd
Sylvia
Alex Rafalowicz
David as a Boy
David L. King
Viney
Neil Thomson
RCOM Conductor
Joey Kennedy

Critic Reviews for Shine

All Critics (53) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (30) | Rotten (3) | DVD (4)

Shine has a story to reckon with and powerhouse male performances.

January 1, 2000 Comment

USA Today

Top Critic

Intense, gripping mental-illness music drama.

February 1, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

With the exception of a few overwrought scenes, Hicks' Australian biopic of pianist David Helfgott, which caused a bidding war at the 1996 Sundance Fest, is fresh and emotionally stirring without being sentimental or cliched.

December 25, 2007 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

The movie is really an Oscar sandwich -- stale bread surrounding a big piece of ham: Geoffrey Rush.

September 23, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

Inspiring, memorable cinema.

September 11, 2005 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

| Comment

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

God save us from yet another holy fool movie. Geoffrey Rush has been much better.

January 11, 2003 Comment

Rob Vaux

Flipside Movie Emporium

A tremendous biopic about overcoming the odds. It's what 'A Beautiful Mind' wants to grow up to be.

January 4, 2003 Comment

Widgett Walls

Needcoffee.com

Pays tribute to the important role of soul-friends in the nurturing of one's creative talents.

August 26, 2002 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Shine

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Famous bio-pic is indeed well done and engaging as we follow a young piano prodigy from his formative years to modern day, with the emphasis on his manic relationship with his father. In typical Hollywood fashion, while Rush won Best Oscar for his fragile portrayal of a wounded artist, the film is actually carried by

June 12, 2011

moon rivers

Super Reviewer

Bittersweet biography dealing with Australian concert pianist David Helfgott who suffered from mental illness. Most of the film concerns his formative years as a musical prodigy. He escapes the tyrannical rule of his father who disowns him after he departs for London upon being offered a scholarship to the Royal

July 22, 2008