---
title: "Shining Through: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/shining-through/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/shining-through"
critics_score: 49
critics_reviews: 7
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Shining Through (1992): what the critics said

Critics' score 49 from 7 reviews: 1 positive, 3 mixed, 3 negative.

The reviews lean mixed to negative, and most critics agree on what the problem is: a wartime melodrama with a spy plot they call far-fetched, contrived or outright ludicrous. Where the praise clusters, it is on Melanie Griffith, whom several reviewers find engaging enough to carry the audience through the implausibilities, at least for a stretch, with Michael Douglas credited alongside her for giving his all in a role that suits him. Only Empire comes out properly in favour, finding the film entertaining in spite of its clichés.

The spread is wide. The harsher notices find the melodrama overly sentimental and the intrigue predictable, with the film’s excesses wearing out their welcome well before the end. Griffith divides them too: Radio Times calls her miscast and uncomfortable in a period role, and Variety says her character feels too modern for the setting, even while finding her occasionally appealing. Two of the reviews could not be read in full, so the picture rests largely on five.

## Empire — William Thomas

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. 

The critic finds the film entertaining despite its contrivances and clichéd plot. They praise Griffith and Douglas for giving their all in roles suited to them.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/shining-review/)

## RogerEbert.com

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 

The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No praise or complaint can be verified from the available text.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/shining-through-1992)

## The New York Times — Janet Maslin

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 1992. 

The page is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. The available text does not identify any specific praise or complaint.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/31/movies/reviews-film-spying-and-strudel-as-part-of-war-effort.html)

## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan

Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 1992. 

Turan finds the film entertaining for a while despite its far-fetched plot, though its excesses eventually wear out their welcome. He especially praises Melanie Griffith’s engaging performance and ability to carry the audience.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-31-ca-824-story.html)

## Radio Times — Joanna Berry

Rating 2/5. 

Berry finds the melodrama implausible and spoiled by ludicrous plot turns. She particularly criticizes Melanie Griffith’s miscasting and discomfort in the period role.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-xor7ts/shining-through/)

## Time Out — NF

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic characterizes the film as a lavish but ludicrous WWII melodrama. The description singles out Griffith’s plucky, half-Jewish New York secretary as its central figure.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/shining-through)

## Variety — Variety Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1991. 

The review finds the melodrama overly sentimental and its spy intrigue predictable. It singles out Griffith’s occasionally appealing performance but says her character feels too modern for the period.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/1991/film/reviews/shining-through-1200429255/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/shining-through.md