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Movies / On DVD / Music of the Heart
Music of the Heart

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Music of the Heart (1999)

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Reviews Counted:75

Fresh:51

Rotten:24

Average Rating:6.6/10

Consensus: Meryl Streep's depiction of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things transcends, inspires, and entertains.

Runtime: 2 hrs 4 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: After her husband leaves her, Roberta Guaspari (Streep) struggles to find a job. When she bumps into an old friend (Quinn), he tells her of a high school that could is without a music teacher. She... After her husband leaves her, Roberta Guaspari (Streep) struggles to find a job. When she bumps into an old friend (Quinn), he tells her of a high school that could is without a music teacher. She meets with the school's principal (Bassett) and states her desire to teach the children the violin. The principal rejects her, citing lack of funding as one of the many excuses why it could never happen. Persistently, she eventually breaks her down and fights to establish a solid, effective program. Ten years later, the program has spread to other schools and is a smashing success. When funds are once again cut and the program is threatened for real, Roberta uses connections to get the injustice printed in the New York Times. A benefit concert ensues at Carnegie Hall, featuring appearances of such luminaries as Itzhak Perlman, Isaac Stern, and Arnold Steinhardt. [More]

Starring: Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, Gloria Estefan, Angela Bassett

Starring: Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, Gloria Estefan, Angela Bassett, Cloris Leachman, Josh Pais, Jay O. Sanders, Charlie Hofheimer, Kieran Culkin, Jane Leeves

Director: Wes Craven

Director: Wes Craven
Screenwriter: Pamela Gray
Producer: Marianne Maddalena, Alan Miller, Walter Scheuer
Composer: Mason Daring

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jul 1, 2003

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Music Of The Heart
  • 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!
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Music of the Heart

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    1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z)
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    an inspirational story that finds its harmonies not without their share of dissonant notes.

    Full Review Source: Hollywood Report Card | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Ross Anthony
    Ross Anthony
    Hollywood Report Card

    Yet another irresistible performance by Meryl Streep.

    Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    William Arnold
    William Arnold
    Seattle Post-Intelligencer

    Las personas que han estudiado música o han practicado la docencia, podrán entender la problemática que plantea Craven en su película

    Full Review Source: Moviola | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Jorge Avila Andrade
    Jorge Avila Andrade
    Moviola

    Moves with more dexterity than most dedicated-teacher flicks.

    Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Joe Baltake
    Joe Baltake
    Sacramento Bee

    Makes a good case for its message, about the value of music education and the eternal precariousness of its funding.

    comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Melinda Bargreen
    Melinda Bargreen
    Seattle Times

    Oddly enough, this film is just as powerful as any of Craven's horror films and can evoke strong emotion and sentiment, if you let it.

    Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Athan Bezaitis
    Athan Bezaitis
    Filmcritic.com

    Music isn't much more than elementary sentimentality.

    Full Review Source: SPLICEDWire | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Rob Blackwelder
    Rob Blackwelder
    SPLICEDWire

    An inspirational, pleasantly diverting but markedly familiar family movie.

    Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Philip Booth
    Philip Booth
    Orlando Weekly

    Some movies you want to see. Some movies you need to see. Music Of The Heart is one of the latter.

    Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Liz Braun
    Liz Braun
    Jam! Movies

    A woman at the end of her rope after she is deserted by her husband finds a path of the heart that enables her to share her gift with the world.

    Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
    03/04/02
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Spirituality and Practice

    I've always had a soft spot for teacher movies, and this one is high on my list.

    comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Jay Carr
    Jay Carr
    Boston Globe
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Unintentional humour, soapboxing, and slack direction mar Music of the Heart’s second half.

    Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Bill Chambers
    Bill Chambers
    Film Freak Central

    It is a pretty good film with strong performances by Meryl Streep and Angela Bassett.

    Full Review Source: Norman Transcript | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Jim Chastain
    Jim Chastain
    Norman Transcript

    Craven sends the audience out feeling happy and inspired--which is the very reason why one would buy a ticket.

    Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Michael Dequina
    Michael Dequina
    TheMovieReport.com

    Sweetly sentimental, undeniably humane.

    Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Duane Dudek
    Duane Dudek
    Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    Most movies claiming to be based on fact pour on the melodrama, but this one basically just sticks to the real story, which has all the emotional wallop that's needed.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Roger Ebert
    Roger Ebert
    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Doesn't revolve around a self-centered main character or possess the schmaltz of Mr. Holland's Opus.

    Full Review Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) | comment Comment
    07/02/04
    Judith Egerton
    Judith Egerton
    Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

    Whatever the female equivalent of mensch is -- womensch? -- Meryl Streep is it, and she really has it down in Music of the Heart.

    Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    David Elliott
    David Elliott
    San Diego Union-Tribune

    Music of the Heart virtually sings with warmth and inspiration.

    Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Jack Garner
    Jack Garner
    Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

    Streep's extraordinary performance makes this the rare inspirational movie that actually is, well, inspirational.

    Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
    Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
    Atlanta Journal-Constitution
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z)
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