Heartburn (1986)
Average Rating: 5.4/10
Reviews Counted: 13
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 7
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 2
liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 4,996
My Rating
Movie Info
Though she always played coy about the fact in interviews, Nora Ephron's novel Heartburn is a thinly disguised "à clef" rehash of her marriage to Washington Post reporter Carl Bernstein. Meryl Streep plays Rachel, an influential food critic who marries charismatic columnist Mark (Jack Nicholson) after a whirlwind courtship. Warned that Mark is constitutionally incapable of settling down with any one woman, Rachel gives up her own job to make certain that her marriage works. When Rachel announces
Jul 25, 1986 Wide
Jul 6, 2004
Paramount Pictures
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Meryl Streep
Rachel -
Jack Nicholson
Mark -
Jeff Daniels
Richard -
Maureen Stapleton
Vera -
Stockard Channing
Julie -
Richard Masur
Arthur -
Catherine O'Hara
Betty -
Steven Hill
Harry Rachel's Father -
Milos Forman
Dmitri -
Natalie Stern
Annie -
Karen Akers
Thelma Rice -
Caroline Aaron
Judith -
Gregg Almquist
Dinner Party Guest -
Sidney Armus
Jeweler -
-
Christian Clemenson
Sidney -
Susan Forristal
Magazine Colleague -
Jack Gilpin
Ellis -
Joanna Gleason
Diana -
Ryan Hilliard
Dinner Party Guest -
Anna Maria Horsford
Della -
-
Dana Ivey
Wedding Speaker -
Lela Ivey
Hairdresser -
Aida Linares
Juanita -
Salem Ludwig
Judge -
Ron McLarty
Detective O'Brien -
Cynthia O'Neal
Magazine Colleague -
Angela Pietropinto
Hospital Receptionist -
John Rothman
Jonathan Rice -
Mercedes Ruehl
Eve -
Yakov Smirnoff
Contractor Laszlo -
Kevin Spacey
Subway Thief -
Dana Streep
Dinner Parly Guest -
Libby Titus
Rachel's Sister -
Kenneth Welsh
Dr. Appel -
John Wood
British Moderator -
Patricia Falkenhain
Dinner Party Hostess -
Tracey Jackson
Hairdresser's Friend -
Elijah Lindsay
Anesthetist -
Jack Neam
Butcher -
Kimi Parks
Arthur and Julie's Daug... -
Michael Regan
Father of the Bride -
Ari M. Roussimoff
Workman -
Luther Rucker
Workman -
R.S. Thames
Dan -
Margaret Thomson
Irritated Wedding Guest -
-
-
ADVERTISEMENT
All Critics (17) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (7) | DVD (5)
This is the most disappointing film of the year, considering its pedigree -- a Mike Nichols film from a Nora Ephron script, starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson.
Decently (but no more) acted by Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson, this marriage on the rocks melodrama, based on Nora Ephron's memoir, is ultimately shallow and verbose.
Grabs you by the heart and doesn't let go
Uneven script, but brilliant performances.
No chemistry between Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson
Depicts a marriage on the rocks.
it's hard to root for their reconciliation
Audience Reviews for Heartburn
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for Heartburn yet.
What's Hot On RT
Gatsby Is Style Over Substance
Blockbuster news and reviews
Movies Directed by Tyler Perry
A gallery of classic books on film
Featured on RT
- Critics Consensus: The Great Gatsby is a Case of Style Over Substance 35
- Video Interview: Peeples cast Craig Robinson, Kerry Washington, and more 0
- Total Recall: Movies Directed by Tyler Perry 74
- Parental Guidance: The Great Gatsby, Jack Reacher, and Safe Haven 9
- Video Interview: Aftershock Producer Eli Roth 4
- Ray Harryhausen: 1920-2013 33
- Digital Multiplex: Cloud Atlas, Pulp Fiction and more 5
Top Headlines
-
Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto Star Trek Into Darkness Interview
0
-
Marvel President Kevin Feige Talks Avengers 2, Doctor Strange, and More
1
-
Disney Announces Animated Marvel Project Big Hero 6
0
-
Jurassic Park 4 on Hold
0
-
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Gets a Synopsis
0
-
Alicia Vikander Joins The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
0
-
Robert Redford Laces Up for A Walk in the Woods
0


Top Critic
Nora Ephron makes me hate white people. These two privileges, upper-class, yuppie white people smack of the kind of white sense of entitlement that would make me turn into Malcolm X. Thinking about Ephron's films, I can't remember a single non-white character who isn't carrying a tray or, as is the case in this film, saying, "Meesus Forman" in a caricature of a Hispanic maid; her main complaint about Rachel nemesis in the film is that she's "messy," as though the only way this woman can evaluate one's character is through her work.
Now, I suppose you're saying that since race isn't a concern for Ephron, it's unfair to bring it up, or you're saying that Woody Allen has only one African American character in his entire oeuvre (Cookie from Deconstructing Harry) who merely serves to set up a racist joke. It's true that Ephron isn't writing about race, but it's nonetheless inappropriate to have the only depiction of nonwhites in subservient roles; if race isn't one of Ephron's concerns, then don't include any nonwhites in any role; have a white maid. Eliding nonwhites seems less offensive to me than confining nonwhites. And I admit one of Woody Allen's weaknesses is his single-color pallet, but in his entire film collection, there is only one instance where a nonwhite is confined to a subservient role, and this a non-speaking maid in Hannah and Her Sisters. As racist depictions go, Allen's not good, but Ephron is horrid.
The detestable depiction of race in Heartburn isn't the only thing that bothered me about the film. The conflict literally doesn't start until the film is forty-seven minutes old. For an eternity, we have to watch these yuppies be unpardonably happy with their courtship, their child, and their seemingly insouciant ability to get over their fears of marriage and commitment - serious fears that are glossed over and defeated with some simple spooning. It's so boring in a way that only the overly saccharine Ephron can bore one.
The half-star bonus point is for Jack Nicholson who has some good moments and for one scene with a jewelry salesman that was well-written.
Overall, after Julie and Julia and Bewitched, one would think that I'd learn my lesson.