As good as movie-making gets

Rating: 10/10 (3 October 2009)

I am a movie fanatic with over 1000 titles in my private collection. I spend a lot of time on IMDb reading movie reviews to decide about what to order. This movie would rank in my top 5 favorites and the only one so far that I have taken time out to review like this. The story is so unique, incredibly well drawn, directed and acted and you have absolutely no way of guessing at what will happen next (this is one of my top criteria for great movies - that of being non-formulaic and unpredictable). The story begins at an auction house where a masterpiece antique violin is being auctioned off. The viewer is then taken back through the life story of the violin and the lives that it touched over 200 years. I have seen this movie several times and I never fail to marvel at my re-enjoyment of watching it. Great story, great acting, great music, unpredictable and unique. It doesn't get any better!! It amazes me that while this movie gets high marks and outstanding reviews that it isn't rated even higher.