Customer Reviews

Clara's Heart [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

"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 Purple
The Ice Storm
La Passante

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.

THIS MOVIE IS A REAL TEAR JERKER.WHOPPI PLAYS A JAMACIAN CARE GIVER.SHE IS TO TAKE CARE OF A LITTLE BOY.SHE HAS TO TEACH HIM HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES.THIS MOVIE IS NOT ONLY A TEAR-JERKER,IT WILL MELT YOUR HEART.THE BOY IS NEIL PATRICK HAUSER,DOOGIE HOUSER THIS MOVIE IS VERY SPECIAL.THE REVIEW APPLIES TO THE VHS EDITION,IF YOU CAN FIND IT. !!!SAY HOW ABOUT THE DVD RELEASE!!! UPDATE 7/11/07. THERE IS A EUROPEAN RELEASE ON REGION 2 THAT IS OFFICIAL! AND IS WIDESCREEN! YES ON WARNER BROTHERS IN GERMANY 7 32192111834 GOOD LUCK THANK YOU!

I am a big fan of Whoopi. I've seen just about every movie she's done. One of my favorites is this one, Clara's Heart. Very good film. I wish they had it in DVD, but before there was DVD there was VHS, so if I want it, I shouldn't really complain. But I do recommend this movie.

This is a beautifully textured film about Clara Mayfield, a Jamaican care-giver, and David Hart, the troubled young boy who is her sole charge. He is the son of Leona and Bill Hart, two self-absorbed individuals whose marriage is crumbling all around them.

Clara takes care of David and with her warm, motherly personality gives him the succor he craves, helping him with the pain of being emotionally bereft. He, in turn, loves her unconditionally and is even given to speaking patois, cementing the strong bond between them. Without his knowing it, he helps her to come to terms with her own pain and terrible secret.

Whoopi Goldberg is a wonderful actress who gives rich dimension to the role of Clara Mayfield, infusing her with an intelligence, wisdom, and warmth that is palpable. Just beneath the surface, however, one senses a tremendous desolation that becomes clear at the end, when her terrible secret is revealed. Whoopi also captures the rhythm of the lilting Jamaican accent and gets the patois down pat. It is one of her most memorable roles.

Neil Patrick Harris is terrific in the role of David, making his love for Clara believable and touching. His integration into Clara's Jamaican world is also moving, as he seeks to find a place he can truly call home. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and he even learns to speak a respectable Jamaican patois. All this, however, cannot stop his parents from claiming him in the end.

Kathleen Quinlan is excellent as the coolly detached, yuppie mother, while Michael Ontkean resonates as the ambitious and driven yuppie father. They epitomize the kind of parents who are well meaning but too self-absorbed to see the effect that their actions have on their children or that their children have emotional needs of their own that need attention.

All in all, this is a sensational movie and one in which Whoopi Goldberg leaves her mark. It is a film lovingly directed by Robert Mulligan (To Kill a Mockingbird, Up the Down Staircase, The Other) and should be seen by all discerning film lovers. Bravo!

This is a very good movie! I have Watch this movie four times! Whoopi Goldberg played a good role! I think i have heard of the actor name Neil patrick Harris! He played in that movie Harold and Kumar! I believe this is his first movie i assumed! But this is an 80's classic that should have been on DVD! Thanks Amazon!

Fine performances from Goldberg and Harris, it's their movie, set against a nice panorama of Baltimore. Harris's tune lingers to this day. Quinlan conveys very well both the sympathetic and unsympathetic aspects of her character, with Onkean well cast as the (largely) upstaged father. Understated turn by Spalding Gray, as well.

Long overdue for a remastered, widescreen DVD edition.

This is another wonderful movie with Whoopie in it. She is a A+ actress & she only does good stories. If you like her you will love this movie. It is one of her best. If you don't have this movie buy it. You won't be disappointed. Love you Whoopie.

This effort by Whoopi is one to be commended..Loved her portrayal and her deep character imagery....Some things are not the right part but this one fit Whoopi....thanks ..i am gonna spend my birhtday in a bungaloo just like the one in the movie.....thanks for the Idea...