Heartburn (1986)
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Cast
as Rachel Samstat
as Mark Forman
as Richard
as Vera
as Julie
as Arthur
as Betty
as Harry
as Dmitri
as Annie
as Thelma Rice
as Juanita
as Della
as Detective O'Brien
as Dr. Appel
as Subway Thief
as Eve
as Diana
as Dan
as Ellis
as Sidney
as British Moderator
as Jeweler
as Laszlo
as Judith
as Hairdresser
as Hairdresser's Friend
as Rachel's Sister
as Hospital Receptionist
as Magazine Colleague
as Magazine Colleague
as Wedding Speaker
as Jonathan Rice
as Anesthetist
as Butcher
as Arthur and Julie's Daughter
as Judge
as Dinner Party Hostess
as Irritated Wedding Guest
as Dinner-Party Guest
as Dinner-Party Guest
as Dinner-Party Guest
as Dinner-Party Guest
as Dinner-Party Guest
as Dinner-Party Guest
as Dinner-Party Guest
as Dinner-Party Guest
as Father of the Bride
as Workman
as Workman
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Critic Reviews for Heartburn
All Critics (15) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (8) | DVD (2)
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.
The food-sex jokes come off half-baked.
'80s comedy-drama has mature themes, profanity.
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.
Audience Reviews for Heartburn
Norah Ephron's book launched this film, which tackles the tricky subject of infidelity without much complexity. The film covers the emotional rollercoaster that was Ephron's second marriage, using stand-ins Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. Most of the film is about their relationship, its beginnings, and the machinations of their life together. Near the end we actually get to the issues of the marriage, i.e. the infidelity on the part of Mark (Nicholson). The message of the film is that you shouldn't be with someone who doesn't respect you. What makes this lukewarm is that Mark's point of view is never expressed, and it's very one sided. Rachel (Streep) runs off, but is filled with regret as she is a single mother, and very pregnant. It seems like she only wants Mark to race after her, as she waits for him to call or send flowers, neither of which he does. The ending remains anticlimactic because Rachel doesn't really learn anything that isn't easy for her to reach. She just stops acting needy and changes her mind. It doesn't say anything bigger than "cheating is bad" and that's a message that has already been hammered to death, in much better films that include abuse and dependency. Without any complexity or understanding of this marriage as a whole, it's too easy an ending, and not worth the watch.
Super Reviewer
The marriage between a columnist and his wife degrades when she discovers his infidelity. 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.
Super Reviewer
Bittersweet comic drama that knowing the actual background inspiration is at times uncomfortable to watch. Nicholson is fine but Meryl's is the performance that really stands out. A high quality supporting cast however isn't really put to good enough use.
Super Reviewer
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