Shine movie review

Rating: 7/10 (6 January 2011)

It is both moving, and a whimsically entertaining film to view, as Geoffrey Rush and Noah Taylor both demonstrate their unique performances as the well respected, but terribly ill pianist, David Helfgott. Marked with Schizoaffective disorder, an illness so damaging that it affected the very mood and form of speech of young David, up until his overall lost result, with nothing but the disease itself became the very thing left to master. Growing up in Melbourne Australia, David grew up under the care of his parents and the company of his sisters. His father Peter, stubbornly played by Armin Muellar-Stahl, taught and inspired his David to perfect his talent with the piano. He even sought for his son to learn the 3rd concerto by Rachmaninoff, yet never encouraging to leave and improve his talent beyond there little home. It was the very encouraging words of a compassionate Australian communist, Katharine Prichard, that young David (Taylor) would go to London, and study in the Royal College of Music. His desire to make his own decision caused his father to disown him, and thus further pushing him away. As young David continues to practice, the illness that soon claimed his way of life took hold, whether it was in his moments of practice, or his literal demonstration of the 3rd concerto, David lost himself in the moment. David (Rush), at a much older age, as been up and around with his life, moving from an institution to a hotel, and then to piano playing hobby in a restaurant. These are all many turns in his life, to the very point when he meets the love of his life Gillian. David's relationship with his father was a major turn in his life, as it simply ended in regretful, but a brief moment of reconcile. Peter hugged his son after years of rejection, and the burden of their tension was lifted, thus making his fathers departure from this world all the more sad, for David had to play for all those who loved him, but his father. "Shine" can't be characterized as one of the greatest bio flicks I've ever viewed, however, the performances liven up the screen with both their authentic portrayals, and the conflicts among the characters. The individual portrayals of Helfgott in his youth and mid life surprised me, with the performance of Noah Taylor, representing the tormented side of David, slowly being consumed by his dedication to music, as well that very depression the consumed him for most of his life. Geoffrey Rush portrays David at a mid age, speaking in disorganized, but arithmetic pattern of speech, changing from one subject to another, exemplifying the result of his disorder. The way Rushbrings his portrayal to life, is both enjoyable and amusing. Stahl forms a cloud of inner tension among David and his performance of Peter Helfgott, and that very tension has probably been one of the major contributions to David's illness. The film "Shine" may be a little disorganized with it's direction. The first half with a young David growing up and spiraling into a wing of depression well done, however, the remaining half of his mid life seemed rather brief for my tastes, despite the overall theme of his comeback being very inspirational. Geoffrey Rush and Stahl are very great actors that make "Shine" shine in glory.