SHINE
A film review by Michael Redman
Copyright 1997 Michael Redman
*** (out of ****)
An Australian child prodigy, bullied by his father to succeed, is on his way to world fame by virtue of his remarkable skill at the piano. He wins contests, impresses the right people and teachers stand in line to work with him. Then it all falls apart amidst sweat, insanity and Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No. 3".
Based on the true story of David Helfgott life, the film has earned numerous awards (Best Actor from New York Film Critics Association, Best Picture from others). It is a powerful portrayal of madness but there is also a certain "emptiness" to it that prevents the film from reaching inside the audience with the intensity that the tale begs for.
Helfgott's journey from childhood through his breakdown to a comeback in his forties is one of triumph over mental illness, however the viewer's emotional involvement often remains detached. And that's too bad. Whatever it is that just doesn't "click" stands in the way of this fine movie being a magnificent one.
Geoffrey Rush who portrays the musician as an adult is wild and right on target as the rambling fast-talking genius-in-left-field. His inspired take on the deranged rivals Dustin Hoffman's Rainman. You'll be unable to take your eyes off him while he is eating up the screen.
One of the problems is that Helfgott condition is never very clear. We see him as a beaten child dominated by his monster father but driven to excel at the keyboard. We watch as he gains more and more skill, learning to use the piano as a means of self-expression. All along, his eye is on his father's Holy Grail: performing the seemingly un-playable "Rach 3".
After masterfully performing the piece, he collapses on stage. The next thing we know, he's institutionalized: a shattered man. Slowly coming back to life, during the next few years the pianist begins to regain his sanity. What happened? It's never very clear and that missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle leaves the picture incomplete.
There are some wonderful scenes between Rush and Helfgott savior/lover/astrologer (Lynn Redgrave) and some truly frightening ones featuring the boy and his father. Based on the reviews and awards, perhaps others see something that I don't, but I couldn't help wanting more.
[This appeared in The "Bloomington Voice", Bloomington, Indiana, 2/27/97. Michael Redman can be reached at mredman@bvoice.com ]
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