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Cast

Meryl Streep
as Rachel Samstat

Jack Nicholson
as Mark Forman

Jeff Daniels
as Richard

Maureen Stapleton
as Vera

Stockard Channing
as Julie

Richard Masur
as Arthur

Catherine O'Hara
as Betty

Steven Hill
as Harry

Milos Forman
as Dmitri

Natalie Stern
as Annie

Karen Akers
as Thelma Rice

Geraldine Chaplin

Aida Linares
as Juanita

Anna Maria Horsford
as Della

Wilfrid Hyde-White

Ron McLarty
as Detective O'Brien

Kenneth Welsh
as Dr. Appel

Kevin Spacey
as Subway Thief

Mercedes Ruehl
as Eve

Joanna Gleason
as Diana

R.S. Thames
as Dan

Jack Gilpin
as Ellis

Christian Clemenson
as Sidney

John Wood
as British Moderator

Sidney Armus
as Jeweler

Yakov Smirnoff
as Laszlo

Caroline Aaron
as Judith

Lela Ivey
as Hairdresser

Tracey Jackson
as Hairdresser's Friend

Libby Titus
as Rachel's Sister

Angela Pietropinto
as Hospital Receptionist

Cynthia O'Neal
as Magazine Colleague

Susan Forristal
as Magazine Colleague

Dana Ivey
as Wedding Speaker

John Rothman
as Jonathan Rice

Elijah Lindsay
as Anesthetist

Jack Neam
as Butcher

Kimi Parks
as Arthur and Julie's Daughter

Salem Ludwig
as Judge

Patricia Falkenhain
as Dinner Party Hostess

Margaret Thomson
as Irritated Wedding Guest

Charles Denney
as Dinner-Party Guest

Gregg Almquist
as Dinner-Party Guest

Lane Garrison
as Dinner-Party Guest

Ryan Hilliard
as Dinner-Party Guest

Dana Streep
as Dinner-Party Guest

Mary Streep
as Dinner-Party Guest

Cyrilla Dorn
as Dinner-Party Guest

May Pang
as Dinner-Party Guest

Mamie Gummer

Michael Regan
as Father of the Bride

Ari M. Roussimoff
as Workman

Luther Rucker
as Workman

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Critic Reviews for Heartburn

Audience Reviews for Heartburn

• Feb 12, 2015

  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.
  Spencer S Super Reviewer
• Jul 26, 2012

  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 <i>Deconstructing Harry</i>) 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 <i>Hannah and Her Sisters</i>. As racist depictions go, Allen's not good, but Ephron is horrid. The detestable depiction of race in <i>Heartburn</i> 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 <i>Julie and Julia</i> and <i>Bewitched</i>, one would think that I'd learn my lesson.
  Jim H Super Reviewer
• Oct 16, 2008

  I think I would rather cut my ear off than watch this movie ever again. While technically a good film, it has been a long time since I loathed two characters in a movie so much. The plot is basically smug, whingey, whiney 30 something (who dresses more like 40 something. Sooo frumpy all the way through this) marries womaniser, thinking of course that she is different and can change him. Oddly enough, he is soon cheating again (what a shocker). I found Meryl Streep's Rachel so unpleasant I really felt very little sympathy for her. Ditto Jack Nicholson's Mark - I don't think he was even meant to be likeable. It was just little things like her complete lack of manners anytime she was being served in a shop (right down to final scene with obnoxious child who looks like a female Chucky. Yes, that's just what I would hope to be stuck next to on a plane). Just the most self observed character ever. And this is supposedly a true story. Heaven forbid.
  Nicki M Super Reviewer
• Sep 13, 2008

  I enjoyed the comedic aspects of this film much more than the dramatic. I also really enjoyed Catherine O'Hara, she added some spunk.
  Sarah P Super Reviewer

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