Randall Berger Movies

The true story of a gifted Australian piano prodigy, this biographical drama was nominated for seven Oscars, with actor Geoffrey Rush winning for Best Actor. Rush stars as David Helfgott, a pianist with a history of mental problems. As a fragile boy genius at math, chess, and piano, David is driven hard by his overbearing father (Armin Mueller-Stahl), a tyrant who forbids him to accept a scholarship offered by the great violinist Isaac Stern. Although he studies briefly in London under tutor Cecil Parks (John Gielgud), David has a nervous breakdown after performing Rachmaninoff's daunting "Piano Concerto No. 3" (known as the "Rach 3"). Years later, the adult David keeps up a steady patter of nervous stammering at all times and has been reduced to playing in a bar. Through a friend, he meets astrologer Gillian (Lynn Redgrave), and falls in love with her. With Gillian's help, David embarks down the road to regained fame and mastery of the "Rach 3." The international popularity of Shine caused a sensation leading to a musical tour for Helfgott, whose performances were less adroit than many audiences expected, sparking criticism that writer-director Scott Hicks had exaggerated his subject's talent for dramatic purposes. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

In this tragicomedy, Luke and Boady O'Hagan (Ben Mendelsohn and Mark Little) are brothers who live together in a seedy section of Melbourne. Luke is in all respects an upstanding citizen. The only thing the least bit unusual is his clandestine romance with a Greek-Australian teacher; it's clandestine because her conservative parents would be horrified to know that she was seriously considering marriage to a non-Greek. Boady, on the other hand, is a highly exciteable fellow, given to living on the edge. When one of the drug deals he is involved with goes wrong, all three of them, along with Boady's pregnant girlfriend, must go into hiding. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Arms dealer Brian McCarron (Peter Adams) has grown wealthy by supplying both sides of the never ending "troubles" in Ireland. He is aided and abetted by his faithful lieutenant O'Rourke (Rob Steele), who stages phony acts of terrorism to promote weapon sales. Hoping to put both men out of business, the IMF stages a frightening ghostly spectacle to gain influence over the highly superstitious O'Rourke. Originally telecast on November 30, 1989, "Banshee" was written by Ted Roberts. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi