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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One Of Whoopi Goldberg`s Finest Performances, June 28, 2000
The reason why l love this film so much is the performance of Academy Award-winner, Whoopi Goldberg. People tend to label her a gifted comedienne but that`s not all she is, as this film proves. In the role of Clara Mayfield, Whoopi Goldberg recaptures the spirit and beauty of her award-winning portrayal of Celie from "The Colour Purple". As l sat watching this film, l was mesmerized by her. And newcomer, Neil Patrick Harris` Golden Globe-nominated performance as David is equally powerful. The dramatic score is another plus. Sweeping notes from the piano, flute and mandolin are enchanting to listen to and they only add more beautiful textures to the film. Now that l`ve explained what l love about the actors and score, l should tell you a little bit about the story. The film is basically about Jamaican housekeeper, Clara Mayfield (Whoopi Goldberg), who comes into the life of a troubled young boy named David (Neil Patrick Harris). David is a young man caught in the middle of his parents` messy divorce. I'm sure a lot of people out there can relate to this story. Clara is the one who helps David confront his pain, and in turn the two develop a strong bond of friendship and love. I highly recommend this film which is filled with terrific performances, especially by the talented Whoopi Goldberg. This woman can make me laugh and cry.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't Want It To End!, December 14, 2005
"Clara's Heart" is a film that once again showcases the great talent of Whoopi Goldberg. She can make us laugh, she can make us cry. In this film, we fall in love with her "Clara" in the short span of little more then 100 minutes and hate to have to leave her when it's time. We want to spend just a few more minutes with this wonderful person. A family is overcome by the grief at the loss of their baby, who died of crib death. The parents are so self-absorbed with their own feelings, they can't see what is really important. Their pre-teen son, David(a young Neil Patrick Harris), is becoming lost in the shuffle. Enter one Clara Mayfield(Whoopi), a Jamaican caregiver who has come to lend a hand. She and David form a strong friendship. She vows, she will be there for him, as long as he needs her. Clara, though, has some deep rooted problems of her own. But they give each other, a love they both are missing from their lives, and their story is touching and heartwarming. Kathleen Quinlan and Michael Ontkean round out the cast nicely as the parents who can't see past their own sorrow. The music by Dave Grusin adds greatly(as always) to this emotional story. Directed by Robert Mulligan, it is a film that will stay with you for quite sometime after the view. An emotional ride, that you probably will want to stay on for a while.Recommended for those that like a good drama, and have plenty of Kleenex on hand! Enjoy....Laurie also recommended: The Color PurpleThe Ice StormLa Passante
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
"A Powerful Force", February 9, 2007
This film is more than it wants to be. The critic and cynic in me would gleefully join Mr. Marshall Fine in enumerating the many ways this film tries to manipulate its audience. First on my list would be the score by Dave Grusin which acts as a musical leash to pull the audience where they probably would have gone anyway. But that is where I will stop, because although the film does everything in its power to convince us it's the cinematic equivalent of Prozac, it betrays this image by containing subtle, powerful insights that set it apart from its saccharine ilk. There IS something different here, you just have to know where to look. Its not so much about what Clara does for David, a lot of his problems remain after her departure... What is special about "Clara's Heart" is that its about the indestructible bond that unites two people. Clara was there for David when he needed her but she did not, could not, and would not clap her hands together and say something to the effect of: "my work is done." In so many other films like this things are "set right" because of a character's influence. Not so here. Clara does not embark upon a project she can finish. What she does is bring David to a point where he can continue on his own, though he does not feel that way at the time. The "powerful force" that Clara speaks of is not diminished by time or space. A movie that celebrates that kind of bond (which absolutely CAN exist) does not deserve to be dismissed as easily as the rest.
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