Customer Reviews

Music of the Heart

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Wes Craven, director of the Scream trilogy, shifts gear and releases "Music of My Heart" based on a true life story of a violin teacher in New York City. The incessant ovation of this movie has proved that shift of genre can be successful.

Roberta, mother of two boys, moved to New York City after her husband had left her for another woman who happened to a good friend of hers. Through connection of a friend, Roberta secured an interview with the principal of an elementary school in Harlem. Roberta was later offered a position as a substitute music teacher.

Due to meager supplies and budget, Roberta offered her own violins for students to practice. With much difficulty and challenge, Roberta founded a violin program for elementary school kids within the neighborhood. Roberta was met with immediate challenge like student discipline, low self-esteem, and opposition from parents. On one occasion, one of the kids' mother refused her son to take violin lesson because playing violin is considered a Whiteman's practice. Roberta's love for the kid has, however, won his mother over.

After almost 10 years as a non-contract substitute teacher, the school faced substantial oppression from the district about dismissing Robert due to budget. The community joined together, along with Roberta's two grown-up sons and prominent musicians to raise money to preserve the program.

"Music of My Heart" is a movie about love and perseverance. Meryl Streep plays a non-showy music teacher; yet through her persistance and self-denial, many students' lives are changed. A true inspiration.

This heartwarming film taken from actual events is brought to life by the marvelous Meryl Streep. It is sentimental to be sure, but also an inspiration and a reminder not to give up on kids. Once exposed to the arts and finding a sense of accomplishment in their success, children will carry this over into other areas of life as well. It is a message that is at once good, and true. It is brought nicely to the forefront in this very underrated Wes Craven film that boasts a terrific cast and an uplifting story of hope.

Meryl Streep is Roberta Guaspari, given a chance to teach violin to some kids in East Harlem, New York, by principal Janet Williams (Angela Bassett). Roberta is a single mother with two boys of her own. She initially has to provide the instruments for the children herself. Though some of the parents can't see how playing the violin will be of any use to their children, she pushes forward with a little encouragement from teachers like Isabel Vasquez (Gloria Estefan) and the response of her students.

She is demanding of her pupils, which rubs both them and their parents the wrong way at first. But as time goes on and she adjusts to them and they begin to know her, the program takes on a life of its own, giving the kids a sense of accomplishment and the ability to dream of something better in their lives. As the years pass the program becomes well known and is a shining point to a school system that is not always equipped to deal with the number of children as compared to the number of good teachers.

Roberta's boyfriend Brian (Aidan Quinn) can not see Roberta's true worth and she finally lets the relationship drop and concentrates on her kids. Her own boys have difficulty with their father's leaving, followed by Brian, but finally grow up enough to want happiness for their mother; they even try to set her up with someone. This is not a one-note movie or a one-note performance as some would have you believe, but a fine and well rounded film full of love and hope.

When school funding threatens to close the program, Roberta is aided by many famous musicians to raise the money needed with a performance at Carnegie Hall, playing with Isaac Stern and others. Streep has a luminous and heartrending turn in this sincere film. Cloris Leachman has a nice role also as Claire's not so perfect mother.

This film shows what can be accomplished if we make the effort to teach children the arts. It is just as important as academics, as this warm and caring film based on the real life of Roberta Guaspari shows. It is a movie worth owning and watching with your own kids.

I just happened to be surfing the channels when I came upon this film. I stopped and watched it to see who was starring in it. When Meryl Streep appeared on the screen, I knew I had to stop and take notice. Well, I was blown away by the performances and the story. This is a perfect film to watch with your child, who is reluctantly taking musical instrument lessons. The dedication of this woman to teach music to children as well as teach them how to apply themselves to whatever their dreams might be, was overwhelming! I highly recommend this as a film to reach and teach the unreachable.

Beatrice

"Music of the Heart" is one of the best movies I've ever seen. This movie has it all: comedy, drama, romance, trauma, surprises....and this movie was also very inspiring. This movie (based on a true story) was about a young woman named Roberta Guaspari and she played the violin. After her husband left her and her two kids for another woman, Roberta taught her children how to play the violin and other instruments. They moved to New York City (I think) and she wanted to teach other children how to play the violin so they could actually feel like they could do something right. So, she decided to go to an elementary school and ask if she could be the childrens' violin teacher. The principal of the school at first, didn't want her to teach at her school. And the movie is basically about how Roberta ends up getting the job as a violin teacher and teaching the children (who were very difficult, of course) to play the violin and respect themselves and others. Meryl Streep was so excellent in this movie (the entire cast was) but the only thing I wished was for Gloria Estefan to have a bigger part. She only had like, one or two lines. I mean, she appeared in a lot of the movie, but she didn't really have any lines. Other than that, I think this was the one of the best movies I've ever seen (like I said before) and can't wait to get it on video! And if you've seen this movie or are thinking about seeing it, then I totally encourage you to go out and see it. This is one movie that I think everybody should see! It's worth watching-even if you only end up watching it, once. You still remember the movie. And I almost cried at the end of the movie (and I usually don't cry when I'm watching movies!) so I really encourage you to go out and buy this video. You'll remember the movie for years to come!

"Music of the Heart" represents the hope that all lives in us. The hope and courage to stand by our beliefs and have a positive though about most of the negative aspects of life. Meryl Streep plays Roberta Guaspari, a newly single mother of two, with no job and a desperate need of a man in her life. When friend/lover Brian Sinclair (Aidan Quinn) sends Roberta to Harlem, New York, to become a violin teacher, Roberta gets more than she expected. The rest of the cast, Oscar award nominee Angela Bassett as Janet, the school principle, and Grammy Award Winning singer, and making her motion picture debut, Gloria Estefan, as Isabel Vasquez, (who should have debuted as Eva Peron in "Evita") give superb performances that are believable and real. Cloris Leachman, Jane Leeves Jay O. Sanders' performances were essential and very effective to the story. Director Wes Craven, who is best known for the "Scream" trilogy, proves that switching genres is, in fact, POSSIBLE. Estefan and N'Sync's closing ballad, "Music of My Heart" fits the theme of the story very well. This 2 Disc DVD Set, is a true must-have to everyone's collection.

A movie, for me, is a collection of moments, and Music of the Heart has one great one: when Meryl Streep walks onto the stage of Carnegie Hall and is greeted by Issac Stern. The violinist and concert hall's caretaker is a gem as he tells Streep, who teaches violin to schoolchildren in Harlem, she can hear the sounds of Horowitz and other musical giants resonate through Carnegie. It's a moving moment in what is pretty stardard bio-pic fare about Streep's struggle to keep her classes going amid budget-cutting. Stern and a host of other talented musicians who helped the teacher with a benefit concert play themselves. The DVD includes the documentary on which the movie was based and a short feature on Carnegie Hall, probably making it a little more worthwhile.

MUSIC OF THE HEART explores the depth of being a true hero (or heroine, if you are a female). It's about loss, romance, drama, and along the way it even has some comical, humorous parts. In this fabulous, true-story, Wes Craven film, Meryl Streep plays a strong young woman named Roberta Gausperi. In the beginning of the film, Roberta is stressing over the loss of her husband - who (before the film begins) had left her and her two young children for another woman they met while living in Greece (her husband worked in the Navy and they were always moving around the Globe). Roberta takes her children (Nick and Lexi) to live at her mother's house. Roberta's mother soon urges her daughter to get a job so she can move into her own house with her kids. Soon, Roberta comes along with an old former high school classmate, Brian (Adian Quinn), and they end up falling in love. Since Roberta loves music and plays the violin (she even taught her two children to play the violin), Brian suggested to Roberta that she go to tough East Herlem in New York where there was a young principal at an elementary school Janet Williams (Angela Bassett), looking for substitute teachers. So Roberta takes Lexi and Nick and move to East Herlem, hoping that Roberta will get the job. When Roberta meets with Janet and tells her that she wants to be their music teacher, Janet first is hesitant to give Roberta the job because she doesn't think the school board will allow any music classes (mostly because of money issues). So Roberta finally proves to Janet - by bringing in her two sons to play the violin with them - that she can handle the music class and Janet just can't resist. Roberta soon gets her classes together and soon realizes that the job of being a violin teacher isn't easy! All of the children in her classes end up having their own problems, and things in Roberta's life become more emotional while working with them. Then, 10 years later, Roberta is still a music teacher at the school - but Janet ends up firing Roberta because the school board wants to withdrawl all music programs! Furious, Roberta schemes to come up with a way to get her music program back so she can continue having a job. With all the parents from her new classes help, Janet's, and a kindergarten teacher Roberta met and became friends with, Isabel Vasquez (Gloria Estefan), they find a way to beat out all the odds and Roberta becomes a true heroine! Excellent, surpurb performences by the entire cast including Meryl Streep (of course), Angela Bassett, Adian Quinn, Gloria Estefan in her first debut movie, Kieran Culkin, and especially all of Roberta's students! This movie is heartwrenching, heartwarming, charming, inspiring, and everything in between. A must-see to anyone who's ever had a dream and wanted it to come true!!

This movie is great! It is based on a true story! Before I went to see it I thought it was going to be boring. But right after I started watching it I loved it! I almost cried at the end!It is sad though. It is also very insperational on how this one woman taught these kids that live in Harlem how to play the violin! The song is also very inspiring! Just listen to the words and you can tell! I have already pre-ordered this movie and I would recommend it to anyone. I would also do the same with the album!

Meryl Streep's portrayal of a Roberta Guaspari was great.

I know Meryl Streep is a great actress and as we can see from this film, she rocked the house again. The way she acts out her feelings and emotions just touch any person who watches this movie.

I found all the kids and actors who contributed to this film very special. Each and every one of them was able to give you the feel of hope. The music was very inspirational and it could make you cry at times.

Another thing I want to point out is about Roberta's family. Even if she and her husband got separated because he cheated on her, her sons were still very supportive and helped her all through joy and sorrow. It made me feel very touched to see both her sons helped her out in the concert. It's very rare to have a family like that - let me tell you.

Overall, I loved the music and acting. It was very inspirational and touching. You must watch it!

Kirstie Mabitad

MUSIC OF THE HEART, the story of violin teacher Roberta Guaspari and her fight to save a music program in East Harlem's school system, is based loosely on the 1996 documentary SMALL WONDERS. Ms. Guaspari believed, as did her principal Janet Williams, that studying music and art, in this instance the violin, teaches children discipline and provides them with a sense of self-worth and that the arts should not be treated as frills but rather an integral part of a child's edcuation.

Meryl Streep, nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Ms. Guaspari, is as always magnificent. She favors the instructor a little; but more importantly, she takes on her walk and speech patterns so as to actually become her. While Cloris Leachman, Angela Bassett and Aidan Quinn give respectable performances, the movie belongs to Ms. Streep.

The film adds new material not seen in the documentary; some of it works better than others. The relationship between Quinn and Streep-- she and her two young sons have been deserted by her husband-- could have been left out entirely without much having been lost. On the other hand, the death of a student from a drive-by shooting and the child who has to leave Streep's class and move away because her father is abusing her mother, while fictional-- at least they are not in the documentary-- add touches of necessary realism and keep the movie from becoming one-sided.

The highlight of both this movie and the documentary [included in the DVD version and is not to be missed] is the concert at Carnegie Hall by the students, along with some of the great violinists of the world, to raise money to keep the violin classes continuing. Apparently the concert was the brainchild of Arnold Steinhardt of the Guarneri String quartet and his wife who came to Guaspari's aid in her fight to save the violin program.

Ms Guaspari's vision, refreshing and heart-warming, is simple through profound: teachers make a difference, discipline is essential to learning, music is an integral part of education, all children can learn to play the violin, one should play from the heart. We could use more movies like this one, particularly in times like these when movie houses show documentaries entitled ENRON and THE FOG OF WAR while the casualties from the War in Iraq daily continue to rise and no weapons of mass destruction are found.

Parts of this movie will make you sing.