Shine

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Shine is available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Foxtel Now, and in the UK on Curzon Amazon Channel right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 713 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Watch it for Geoffrey Rush — one of the stronger performances out there right now. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

There is a reason Shine keeps coming up in conversation. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — Shine earns every emotional beat it goes for. Pianist David Helfgott, driven by his father and teachers, has a breakdown. Years later he returns to the piano, to popular if not critical acclaim. Geoffrey Rush and Noah Taylor lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1996. What elevates Shine is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, Shine delivers. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Geoffrey Rush is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.