Bardlerx Strictly average movie

Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Python Hyena Music of the Heart (1999): Dir: Wes Craven / Cast: Meryl Streep, Aiden Quinn, Gloria Estifan, Angela Bassett, Cloris Leachman: Drama that regards the glorious things that can happen when unity plays centre factor. Meryl Streep plays a violin teacher who has just gone through a divorce and receives an offer to teach at an inner city school. She moves out of her mother's house and into a house owned by an old school friend. Recycled and predictable with too many developments that are either unnecessary or left unsolved. It is great to see a filmmaker branch out from his usual fare, but only when it works. Wes Craven lacks the slick appeal of his horror films but nonetheless it is a tremendous turn for him. His talent is much better highlighted in A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream. Streep is a strong presence but this role has been recycled so many times that all she can do is remind viewers that she is above this trash. Her romance with Aiden Quinn is poorly handled especially since he serves little other purpose to the story. Gloria Estifan has a great singing voice but a lousy part in this film, and Angela Bassett is also featured in another of the many flat roles. Theme hindered by useless formula elements. For a superior film check out Mr. Holland's Opus. It is broader and much more interesting but more importantly it carries better music to the heart. Score: 1 / 10

Michael_Elliott Music of the Heart (1999)*** 1/2 (out of 4) Incredibly entertaining and heart-warming story of Roberta Guaspari (Meryl Streep), a woman who finds herself raising her two sons alone when her husband leaves her for another woman. Although Roberta sees her life falling apart, with a little help she manages to get a job in an inner city school teaching violin. Soon this small class begins to help the people in the community as well as Roberta being able to see the power of music.MUSIC OF THE HEART was pretty much overlooked by fans of Wes Craven when it was released and, to be honest, the fans haven't bothered with it to this day, which is really too bad. I'm ashamed to admit that it took me this long to actually watch the movie because it's certainly one of the best films that Craven ever did and it's obvious just by watching it that the material was very close to his heart. Craven at one time was a teacher so it's clear that he had a passion for this material and it easily comes through his very sentimental direction.Of course, it's certainly doesn't hurt when you've got someone like Meryl Streep delivering one of her grand performances that only she can. It's really amazing watching this actress because she makes it seem so easy yet when you really look at this character it's easy to see the challenged. This character really is all over the place throughout the movie in regards to the emotions that she displays yet Street touches on all of them. It's really amazing to see how much passion she brings to the role and you can't help but see a real violin teacher. The supporting cast features fine performances by all of the children as well as the likes of Angela Bassett, Aidan Quinn and Cloris Leachman.The violin music itself is also extremely good and the technical side of the film is all very good. Craven certainly manages to keep the film moving at a very good pace and there's no question that there's a lot of heart in the picture and this comes through whenever a dramatic moment comes up. I'm certainly not going to spoil some of the twists that happen but they're all handled in a very tender way proving that the director was certainly able to deliver more than just horror. MUSIC OF THE HEART features a terrific performance from Streep and fine direction by Craven and it deserves to be seen.

ianlouisiana What could be worse than Meryl Streep with a cute foreign accent condescending to "Ghetto Kids" and tearing up to Stern and Perlman?No,I can't think of anything either.In a movie to leave the Hollywood Cliché devotees dizzy with delight Miss Streep transcends racial and cultural barriers with one bound and turns Harlem in the happy little Rainbow Nation the movies would love it to be.Sorry guys - it just ain't so. Wes Craven - either enormously naive or enormously cynical - has talked up a small but significant victory into a world - class celebratory blubfest with Jew,European and African American all playing - and by extension living - in harmony.Admirable sentiments,laudable intentions?Or downright deception.You be the judge. If closing down music departments in schools means more movies like "Music from the heart" then for heaven's sake reopen them at once. The really sad thing is that by larding the film down with hyperbole and excessive sentiment,the producers have succeeded in denigrating the brave work of Roberta Guaspari.Assuming this was not their intention,it was at least a bad miscalculation.

megunticook This kind of "inspirational" saccharine is enough to make you sick. It telegraphs its sentiments like the biggest semaphore on earth. It removes from the audience its own interpretation and feeling by making the choices for it. The big finish is swimming in weeping orchestration that must supposed to work like jumper cables on a dead car; I guess you'd need such prompting to feel if you're stupid enough to watch a film as simple-minded and sappy as this. Streep glows and you wonder if she really has the depth of feeling on display or if it's just that---a display, switched on and off like a light. Because I can't for the life of me see how she could possibly find life in such a dud of film. Even though it's based on a true story, and an inspirational one at that I'm sure, the set-up, execution and performances play like a third-rate TV movie or half-witted high school drama.