Music of the Heart (Miramax Collector's Series)
starring: Meryl Streep, Cloris Leachman, Henry Dinhofer, Michael Angarano, Robert Ari
directed by: Allan Miller, Wes Craven
directed by: Allan Miller, Wes Craven
List Price: $14.99
Prices subject to change.
You Pay Only: $11.49
You Save: $3.50 (23%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: unknown
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9780788818400
Format: Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0788818406
Label: Miramax
Manufacturer: Miramax
Number Of Items: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Publisher: Miramax
Region Code: 1
Release Date: April 25, 2000
Running Time: 124 minutes
Sales Rank: 2846
Studio: Miramax
Theatrical Release Date: 1999
Related Items:
- Mr. Holland's Opus
- The Ron Clark Story
- "...First Do No Harm"
- Stand and Deliver
- Dead Poets Society
- see more
Editorial Review:
Description:
Two-time Academy Award(R)-winner Meryl Streep (1983 Best Actress, SOPHIE'S CHOICE; 1980 Best Supporting Actress, KRAMER vs. KRAMER) stars with Angela Bassett (HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK) in a heartwarming, acclaimed true story of how one woman's musical gift affected those who least expected it. A single mother with little more than talent and the determination to make a difference, Roberta Guaspari (Streep) overcame the skepticism of everyone who didn't think she should be teaching violin to students in a tough inner-city neighborhood. But even after a decade of ever-growing popularity and countless success stories, Roberta and her kids must rise to meet an even greater challenge: budget cuts aimed at shutting down her valuable program for good! Also starring Aidan Quinn (PRACTICAL MAGIC) and Grammy-winner Gloria Estefan in a stellar cast, this extraordinary story will inspire anyone who's ever thought their dreams were too far out of reach!
Amazon.com:
Why, you might ask, would Wes Craven direct a conventional biopic about Roberta Guaspari, a divorced mother of two who created an acclaimed music program in East Harlem's troubled school system? After all, Craven built his career on Freddy Krueger and the Scream trilogy, and you won't find razor-tipped gloves or a single drop of blood in Music of the Heart. All Craven has to do is provide a safe working environment for Meryl Streep (who earned an obligatory Oscar nomination), sublimate his deft directorial style, and surrender to the banalities of Pamela Gray's screenplay, which would've played more effectively on cable TV.
To be fair, Music of the Heart (partially inspired by the 1996 documentary Small Wonders) serves its purpose quite nicely. Streep is flawless in a non-showy role, and the story of Guaspari's celebrated violin training program provides the requisite rush of inner-city inspiration. As a fact-based companion to Mr. Holland's Opus, the film is less effective but similarly engaging; you'd have to be cold-hearted to dismiss it altogether. It's best when focusing on Guaspari's school program and the 10-year struggle to keep it alive; the drama falters when dealing half-heartedly with her tentative relationships, notably with a journalist (Aidan Quinn) who shies from commitment. And Craven? He seems content to direct by the numbers here, leaving inspiration on the screen while forfeiting his own. --Jeff Shannon
Average Rating: 
Rating:
- Music of the HeartThis very inspiring true story touched me so much that I selected it for a gift. The order was filled, ... Read More
Rating:
- Very InspiringThis is a story of a determined young single mother who as she takes control of her own life, inspires others, ... Read More
Rating:
- An Excellent Violin StoryThis is a terrific story for violin lovers and students (or parents of students). It's heart-warming without being ... Read More
Rating:
- Wonderful!This movie is one of the best movies I have ever seen. It is a touching, heartwarming story, and almost everyone can ... Read More
Rating:
- Play from your soulBeing a music lover, I can feel the roles played n this movie. I love how the mother doesn't give up on her dreams to ... Read More
Browse for similar items by category:
- Drama - Genres - DVD - Video - General
- By Theme - Drama - Genres - DVD - Video - Fighting the System
- By Theme - Drama - Genres - DVD - Video - Melodrama
- By Theme - Drama - Genres - DVD - Video - School Days
- By Theme - Drama - Genres - DVD - Video - True Story
Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.