Music of the Heart
USA 1999
Reviewed by Kay Dickinson
Synopsis
Our synopses give away the plot in full, including surprise twists.
New York, the present. Roberta Guaspari, a navy wife and talented violinist, is abandoned by her husband. Left to fend for herself and her two sons, she is encouraged by her friend Brian (who later becomes her lover) to teach music at an East Harlem high school as a substitute. Eventually she convinces the sceptical principal to give her a permanent job. After initial classroom chaos, Roberta becomes a successful teacher. She buys a house in Harlem, but ends her relationship with Brian because she senses his lack of commitment.
Ten years later, the still-single Roberta is running three violin programmes at various schools on which photo-journalist Dorothea is writing an article. Roberta's two sons take out a lonely-hearts advertisement in her name. Dan, who works at a journalism school, replies to it but Roberta remains wary. When her courses suddenly lose their funding, Roberta organises a "Fiddlefest" charity concert, encouraged by Dorothea. Dan and Dorothea help to publicise her plight in various newspapers. When the venue for the Fiddlefest is flooded, Dorothea uses contacts - including her husband, the famous violinist Arnold Steinhardt - to rebook the concert at Carnegie Hall with guest appearances from several prestigious violinists. The concert is a resounding success and Roberta's project is rescued.
Review
One might wonder why horror director Wes Craven has taken time off from his usual fare to visit that schmaltziest of subgenres, the teacher film, with Music of the Heart. Yet after a quarter of a century of making slash-'em-ups, one can hardly begrudge him a holiday, even if geared to gain him the respect of the over-25s or maybe even some kind of Oscar nomination. After all, the probable inspiration for Music of the Heart, the documentary Small Wonders (1996) about the real-life violin teacher Roberta Guaspari, was nominated for Best Documentary. No doubt the box-office success of Dangerous Minds, which has virtually the same plot, was also a factor. Something as beloved but staid as the teacher film perhaps works best when abiding by audience expectations. Having bought our tickets, we anticipate a protagonist's battle and an inevitable triumph over an assembly of doubting Thomases. Obedient to these rules, Meryl Streep's naive Roberta enters a rough Harlem school and gradually charms staff and students alike with her plucky post-divorce resolve and her dedication to music education.
However, the standard plotline of a teacher bearing the torch of liberal enlightenment to an educationally bereft group comes off rather dubiously here. Early on, an irate mother withdraws her son from class, indignant at Roberta's blinkered devotion to "the music of dead white men". Roberta wins her over in the end, but there's too much emphasis on endless Bach concerti and not enough on Harlem's own rich musical heritage. Although rap and Hispanic pop pound out intermittently from the soundtrack, they merely act as entry signs into the ghetto during various establishing shots.
Nothing about Music of the Heart really merits a two-hour-plus running time or the focus on a single character. Traditionally well-worn plot footholds such as student crises (here drive-by shootings and domestic violence) are barely put to use. The unwillingness to linger over points of dramatic climax, to wallow in trauma, tragedy and eventual survival leaves us with no one to warm to and no indication of Roberta's specialness as a teacher.
Both Streep and Craven fail to muster the unabashed humanism vital to an enjoyable teacher film. Usually adept at handling ensemble casts, Craven is manifestly less capable when dealing with a solo lead. The plight of the struggling individual is not his forte nor, despite her best efforts, is it Streep's, who seems eerily detached from her role. Endowed with less feminist spirit than Bette Davis in The Corn Is Green (1945), less tearjerking than Robin Williams' character in Dead Poets Society and less rootable-for than Sidney Poitier in To Sir, with Love (1967), Streep leaves us questioning the allure of this supposed pedagogical enchantress who may beguile her pupils, but is unlikely to bewitch anyone living outside the film's narrative.
If the charm of a nativity play (or school concert) multiplies the more one has invested in its child performers, then Music of the Heart's youngsters fail to inspire audience pride. Pamela Gray's rather stingy script hands out only one or two lines per pupil, making rounded characterisation nearly impossible. In fact the coy amateurishness of Isaac Stern, who plays himself towards the film's end, is distinctly more endearing. Apart from Stern's contribution, the ratio of heart-strings to violin strings being plucked is decidedly lop-sided.
Credits
- Director
- Wes Craven
- Producers
- Marianne Maddalena
- Walter Scheuer
- Allan Miller
- Susan Kaplan
- Screenplay
- Pamela Gray
- Inspired by the documentary Small Wonders based on the life story of Roberta Guaspari
- Director of Photography
- Peter Deming
- Editors
- Patrick Lussier
- Gregg Featherman
- Production Designer
- Bruce Alan Miller
- Music
- Mason Daring
- ©Miramax Film Corp.
- Production Companies
- Miramax Films presents in association with Craven/Maddalena Films
- Executive Producers
- Bob Weinstein
- Harvey Weinstein
- Amy Slotnick
- Co-producers
- Stuart M. Besser
- Sandy Gallin
- Associate Producers
- Nicholas C. Mastandrea
- Dan Arredondo
- Production Co-ordinator
- Lizz Grant
- Unit Production Manager
- Jane Raab
- Location Manager
- Gayle Vangrofsky
- Post-production Co-ordinator
- Tina Anderson
- Assistant Directors
- Nicholas C. Mastandrea
- Jeffrey T. Bernstein
- Joan G. Bostwick
- Script Supervisor
- Sheila G. Waldron
- Casting
- Avy Kaufman
- Associates:
- Julie Lichter
- Beth Bowling
- LA ADR Voice:
- L.A. MadDogs
- NY ADR Voice:
- Sondra James
- Talent Co-ordinator
- Jonathan Craven
- Camera Operator
- Bruce MacCallum
- Steadicam Operator
- Jim McConkey
- Special Effects
- Efex Specialists
- Special Effects Co-ordinator:
- Al Griswold
- Violin Special Effects Design
- Danny Ferrington
- Art Director
- Beth Kuhn
- Set Decorator
- George DeTitta Jr
- Scenic Artists
- Pat Sprott
- Janet Rush
- Iosif Yusupov
- Autumn Jones
- Laura G. Gillen
- Mike Green
- Costume Designer
- Susan Lyall
- Costume Supervisors
- Chuck Casey
- Frankie Ritacco
- Department Head Make-up
- Matiki Anoff
- Make-up Artist
- Debi Young
- Department Head Hair
- Anthony Veader
- Hairstylist
- Lisa Hazell
- Main/End Title Design
- Bob Dawson
- Main Titles
- Digiscope
- Laurel Schulman
- Opticals/End Titles
- Pacific Title/Mirage
- Darin Millett
- Jack Hulen
- Orchestra Conductor
- Bill Elliott
- Orchestrations
- Bruce Fowler
- Suzette Moriarty
- Ladd McIntosh
- Elizabeth Finch
- Frank Gallagher
- Billy Novick
- Martin Brody
- Shane Koss
- Music Supervisor
- Sharon Boyle
- Production Music Co-ordinator
- Lois DiLivio
- Production Music Producer
- Mason Daring
- Music Co-ordinators
- Jason Alexander
- David Shacter
- Music Editor
- Bill Abbott
- Scoring Mixer
- John Richards
- Pre-record Recording Engineers
- Tim Boyle
- Dennis Sands
- Violin Recording Co-ordinator
- Kristen Autry
- Music Consultant
- Young Musc Foundation:
- Edye Rugolo
- Soundtrack
- "Turn the Page" by Guy Roche, Shelly Peiken, arranged by Guy Roche,
- performed by Aaliyah; "Con sandunga" by Julito Collazo, performed by Tambó featuring Johnny Almendra, Louie Baveo; "The Bridge" by Shawn Moltke, Marlon Williams, performed by MC Shan; "Descargarana" by/performed by Jimmy Bosch; "Salsa Pilón", "Descarga de hoy" by Orlando Valle, performed by Cubanismo!; "Perpetual Motion in A Major", "Allegro, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", "Twinkle-Grasshopper", "Go Tell Aunt Rhody", "Lightly Row" arranged by Dr Shinichi Suzuki, performed by The Young Musicians Foundation; "Make the Music with Your Mouth" by Marcel Hall, Marlon Williams, performed by Biz Markie; "Montuno allegre" by Alberto Valladares, performed by Cubanismo!; "Nothing Else" by/performed by Julio Iglesias Jr; "Revancha de amor" by Cesar Lemos, Gizelle D'Cole, arranged by Ric Wake, performed by Gizelle D'Cole; "Symphony Vol. 1" by Marlon Williams, Craig Curry, Antonio Hardy, Nathaniel Wilson, Duval Clear, performed by Marley Marl featuring Master Ace, Craig G., Kool G. Rap, Big Daddy Kane; "Now in Marianao" by Yosvany Terry Cabrera, performed by Cubanismo!; "Roxanne's Revenge" by Roxanne Shanté, Marlon Williams, performed by Roxanne Shanté; "If I'm Not Your Lover" by Teddy Riley, Timothy Gatling, Al B. Sure, performed by Michael Jerome; "Poison" by Kool G. Rap, Marlon Williams, performed by Kool G. Rap, DJ Polo; "Twinkle Medley", "We Shall Overcome" arranged by Mason Daring, performed by The Young Musicians Foundation; "Prelude from Cello Suite No 1 in G Major" by Johann Sebastian Bach, performed by The Young Musicians Foundation; "Minuet No 1" by Johann Sebastian Bach, arranged by Dr Shinichi Suzuki, performed by The Young Musicians Foundation; "Can Can" by Jacques Offenbach, arranged by Mason Daring, performed by The Young Musicians Foundation; "Haydn Trio" by Joseph Haydn, performed by The Young Musicians Foundation; "Baila" by Emilio Estefan Jr, Jon Secada, Randall Barlow, George Noriega, arranged by Randall Barlow, Jon Secada, George Noriega, performed by Jennifer Lopez; "Orange Blossom Special" by Ervin T. Rose, arranged by Charls A. Hall, performed by Mark O'Connor & The Young Musicians Foundation; "Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins" by Johann Sebastian Bach, arranged by Dr Shinichi Suzuki, performed by Joshua Bell, Karen Briggs, Jonathan Feldman, Diane Monroe, Mark O'Connor, Sandra Park, Itzhak Perlman, Arnold Steinhardt, Isaac Stern, Michael Tree, Charles Veal Jr and The Young Musicians Foundation; "Music of My Heart" by Diane Warren, performed by Gloria Estefan and NSYNC
- Sound Mixer
- Michael Barosky
- Re-recording Mixers
- Terry Porter
- Mel Metcalfe
- Dean Zupancic
- Dubbing Recordists
- Judy Nord
- Jeanette Cremarosa
- Neal Porter
- Chris Sparks
- Supervising Sound Editor
- Todd Toon
- Dialogue Editors
- Albert Gasser
- John Kwiatkowski
- Charles W. Ritter
- Sound Effects Editor
- Adam Kopald
- ADR
- Artist:
- Laura Macias
- Mixers:
- Doc Kane
- Paul Zydel
- Dave Bolton
- Supervising Editor:
- G.W. Brown
- Editor:
- Kimberly Harris
- Foley
- Co-ordinator:
- Rich Green
- Artists:
- Greg Barbanell
- Laura Macias
- Mixer:
- Scott Weber
- Editors:
- Piero Mura
- Dan Yale
- Stunt Co-ordinator
- Peter Bucossi
- Animals
- Birds and Animals Unlimited
- Animal Handler
- Susan Humphrey
- Film Extract
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
- Cast
- Meryl Streep
- Roberta Guaspari
- Aidan Quinn
- Brian Sinclair
- Gloria Estefan
- Isabel Vasquez
- Angela Bassett
- Janet Williams
- Jane Leeves
- Dorothea
- Cloris Leachman
- Assunta Guaspari
- Kieran Culkin
- Lexi at 15
- Charlie Hofheimer
- Nick at 17
- Jay O. Sanders
- Dan
- Josh Pais
- Dennis
- Olga Merediz
- Ramon's mother
- Michael Angarano
- Nick at 7
- Jade Yorker
- DeSean at 11
- Eva Loomis
- Vanessa
- Justin Spaulding
- Naeem at 9
- Dominic Walters
- Justin
- Jean Luke Figueroa
- Ramon
- Henry Dinhofer
- Lexi at 5
- Robert Ari
- supervisor
- Teddy Coluca
- taxi driver
- Barbara Gonzalez
- Janet's secretary
- Victoria Gomez
- Lucy at 10
- Justin Pierre Edmund
- Bongo Kid
- Zoe Sternbach-Taubman
- Guadalupe at 9
- Christopher Lopez
- Adam
- Ruben Jared Seraballs
- James
- Lucy Nonas-Barnes
- Becky
- Rosalyn Coleman
- Mrs Adisa
- Kevin Miller
- hall boy
- Hazel J. Medina
- Alice
- Iraida Polanco
- landlady
- Asha Sapp
- Tanisha
- Betsy Aidem
- Mrs Lamb
- Julie Janney
- flight attendant
- Cole Hawkins
- Lawrence at 5
- Arthur French
- Ernie
- Edmund Wilkinson
- Sheetrock man
- French Napier
- painter
- Socorro Santiago
- Lucy's mother
- Sam Fox Royston
- Leonard
- Melay Araya
- Rachel
- Asease Korankyi
- Shandra
- Myra Lucretia Taylor
- Beverly
- Christian Berreondo
- Ramon's brother
- Leilani Irvin
- Myesha
- Sophia Guaspari
- Rosario
- Adam Lefevre
- Mr Klein
- Rafael John Alan Hines
- Simon
- Jordan Ware
- Kenny
- Amanda Muchnick
- Stephanie
- Ian Quinlan
- Carlos
- Naeem Jones
- Toussaint
- Mateo Gomez
- Ramon's father
- Rosalyn Benniman
- woman at Opus meeting
- Leon Addison Brown
- Mr Adams
- Arnold Steinhardt
- himself
- Scott Cumberbatch
- Lawrence at 15
- Majid R. Khaliq
- Naeem at 19
- Molly Gia Foresta
- Guadalupe at 19
- Cristina Gomez
- Lucy at 20
- Omari Toomer
- DeSean at 21
- Tarik Lowe
- Justin Daly
- teammates
- Isaac Stern
- himself
- Isaiah Sheffer
- Carnegie Hall concert director
- Mark O'Connor
- Michael Tree
- Charles Veal Jr
- Karen Briggs
- Itzhak Perlman
- Sandra Park
- Diane Monroe
- Joshua Bell
- Jonathan Feldman
- themselves
- Dyllon Rogers
- horse hair boy
- April Davis
- first grade girl
- Anibal Crooklyn Cuevas
- frog hair boy
- Sam Deutch
- Lucy Little
- Jose Miguel Rojas
- Andrew Mayer
- violin students 1988
- Rebecca Dinhofer
- Christopher Katrandjian
- Ama Korankyi
- Chantilly Mariani
- Thomas Martin
- violin students 1998
- Certificate
- PG
- Distributor
- Buena Vista International (UK)
- 11,163 feet
- 124 minutes 2 seconds
- Dolby digital/Digital DTS sound/SDDS
- Colour by
- FotoKem
- Prints by
- DeLuxe Laboratories