Music of the Heart (1999)

Music Of The Heart was a pleasant and interesting throwback to old Hollywood when they had no fear in making films about classical music and those who play it. Meryl Streep received one of her innumerable Best Actress Oscar nominations for playing Roberta Guaspari who creates and heads a program for inner city youth. It's not that Streep has the most impressive of resumes when she applies for the job with Principal Angela Bassett. But music is not a big priority in school funding. But she happens to have purchased 50 violins from abroad for another of her projects. That kind of donation no principal can pass up so Streep gets the job.The film divides neatly in half showing first Streep's early days in creating her violin class and then secondly trying to keep it alive during one of those perennial financial crisis that public education always seems to be having. In the tradition of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, what do we do but put on a show.The film this really reminds of is a Samuel Goldwyn Production from the late Thirties titled They Shall Have Music. Gene Reynolds plays an inner city kid who also learns the violin and gets to appear with none other than Jascha Heifetz in a show.Music Of The Heart sees your Heifetz with an Isaac Stern and raises with among others Itzhak Perlman and a number of classical artists who make guest appearances and support Streep and her program. The result, as this is a throwback film to old Hollywood need I tell you?Streep has her personal problems as well, she was a Navy wife who has split from her husband and has two sons, both of whom she has raised to appreciate classical music. She gives all to her kids and her program and loses a few men who'd like to get something going with her, among them Aidan Quinn. She also moves into the East Harlem area where she teaches and truly enters the fabric of her pupil's lives.She gets good support from a nicely chosen ensemble cast, but this film is truly the personal property of Meryl Streep and is joyously recommended to one and all who like classical music.

"You want to play the violin, one of the hardest instruments to master? Well, playing the violin costs, and right here is where you start paying, in practice and in sweat!" Paraphrasing Debbie Allen's dance teacher from "Fame" seems so appropriate in describing Meryl Streep in "Music From the Heart". Her performance as the real-life violin teacher, Roberta Guaspari, is so filled with the love of music that Debbie Allen's Lydia had for dance in the movie and TV series of "Fame". Here, the pupils are not students at New York's school of the performing arts, but second graders in East Harlem. At first, they seem to have more important things to do than be disciplined to play an instrument. But as they gain the discipline and love for what they are being taught, their lives change, their parents change, and so does teacher Streep. Even more changing is the East Harlem neighborhood where Streep teaches and lives, and I should know---I live right down the street from where Guaspari lived (at least in this movie).Supporting Streep magnificently is the wonderful Angela Bassett as the good hearted principal who senses Streep's devotion is needed to help give hope to the children who might otherwise be lost in the tough neighborhood they live in. The dozens of children who supply the music also provide the heart, and it is a joy to watch the lights in their eyes go on as they realize the impact of what they are doing.In smaller roles, Aidan Quinn and Cloris Leachman are very good. Leachman has some nice quick moments as Streep's brittle but loving mother. I really wanted to see more of Gloria Estefan as another teacher who befriends Streep while the other teachers spurn her. A scene which stood out in my mind as being emotionally satisfying is the black mother who earlier had pulled her son out of the class, only to ask Streep to take him back when her cynical eyes open to the magic of what Streep has accomplished. The stony glare and coldness of the scared woman magically disappears once she realizes the impact the violin has had on her son. That's what music is all about."They Shall Have Music", a 1939 movie with a "Dead End" kids theme is very similar in its narrative about how music can change lives. It featured Javier Havitz, who is mentioned in a tender scene here in "Music of the Heart" featuring the legendary Isaac Stern. What is amazing for this incredible movie is the direction by none other than horror movie icon Wes Craven.The message of this film is that the only thing every person in this crazy world shares is music, and no matter what language we speak, music will never disappear, and is the one thing that unites us beyond all other barriers.

It truly is inspiring to see such a movie, where the power of music comes to life: not only can you evidently see it in the children and of the character Roberta in the movie, but it touches you as well. A little music goes a long way in life - just ask those students of the past of Roberta!While I love this movie, I just have to laugh a little bit at the user comment of this movie's page on IMDb. Yes, Meryl Streep did well as to learn the violin parts necessary for this movie. But she was not praised by world-class violinists as posted.. Jascha Heifetz died in '87. How on earth would he manage to give her praise like so? Haha.

Every time this little film is on Encore, I inevitably watch. Tonight I even skipped a party to view this remarkable film. I have avoided Wes Craven films because of their creepiness and gore -- his usual subject matter is just not my favorite genre. But this 'small film' is such a compelling story about real people, real situations, and real heroism, courage, and just plain old chutzpah, that I am drawn very deeply to its story. There's also the quality of impeccable and subtly layered performances by so many amazingly talented actors turning in their finest work for scale, with words and cinematography of the same power and muster, to tell this wonderful tome of inner city challenges and a crazy gritty teacher who rises to the occasion, as well as depicting the lives of those who face such challenges daily. For me, the most moving part of this film is when the late violinist Isaac Stern appears on stage at Carnegie Hall, addressing in an amazingly warm telling of Carnegie's history, a number of the prior performers who've graced that magnificent stage. Though I wish the final performances of Bach could have been longer, it is absolutely thrilling to see the mentoring of this group of accomplished and noted musicians to the many young children and budding talents that performed with them. Every time I watch this, I weep for joy. Thank you to all who made this very beautiful film, and to Roberta Guaspari, who lived this story.