Shine was a good movie about an interesting subject. The filmmaking did not interfere with the story in any way, and I assume that’s how Hicks wanted it. On the other hand, because of this distance between the medium and the message, I feel like more could have been said or done to make the subject matter more interesting or to provide more depth and insight into the characters.
The prime example is that throughout the movie, we are wondering how the young David Helfgott turned into the older David Helfgott. What is it that turned him from a shy, likeable child prodigy to a mumbling, messy, likeable adult sideshow? The movie answers this question rather simply and neatly, with much explanation, but without much depth, delving, or speculation.
Nevertheless, the subject matter and the able filmmaking make this movie worth seeing.