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Shine (1996)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
6/14
6/14:
I remember seeing Shine when it was released in 1996 and thinking it was a pretty good film, and after trying again,
my opinion still holds up.
Geoffrey Rush may have won the Oscar, but I'm surprised Noah Taylor didn't merit one in a tie because he was also
very good, if not better than Geoffrey. It made me think of Daniel Day-Lewis winning the Oscar for
My Left Foot when Hugh O'Conor, the child, gave the same kind of performance.
Armin Mueller-Stahl and John Gielgud are also excellent. The story is interesting, but after reading David Helfgott's
background, there's, unfortunately, a great deal of fabrication. The film may deliver quality music; however in
reality, David Helfgott's is anything but. The trouble with his playing is that it's technical, angry, and emotionally
devoid: a rendition which is performed by rote memorization with no proper pace. Nevertheless, it doesn't diminish the film
as a whole.
All in all, Shine is an inspiring picture.