Music of the Heart (1999)
Music of the Heart Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Roberta
as Brian
as Janet
as Isabel
as Dorothea
as Assunta
as Lexi
as Dan
as Lawrence
as Naeem
as Lexi (5)
as DeSean
as Nick
as Guadalupe
as Rachel
as Lucy
as Ramon
as Nick `Young'
as Lexi `Young'
as Becky Lamb
as herself
as Lucy's Mother
as Supervisor
as Taxi Driver
as Bongo Kid
as Dennis Rausch
as Manuelo Olivas
as Headlock Boy
as Painter No. 1
as Justin Brady
as Vanessa Klein
as Shandra Wilson
as Tanihsa
as Concepcion
as Carlos
as Myesha
as Leonard Hood
as Mrs. Lamb
as Lawrence
as Henry
as Mrs. Adisa
as Old Woman in Tenement Building
as Beverly Wilson
as Alice Crowley
as Adam
as Landlady
as Ernie the Electrician
as Toussaint
as Pedro
as Mr. Klein
as himself
as New Times Reporter
as Mr. Adams
as herself
as Naeem Adisa `Teen'
as DeSean `Teen'
as Guadalupe `Teen'
as Lucy `Teen'
as himself
as Guadalupe's Grandmother
as Carnegie Hall Staff Person
as himself
as Naval Officer
as Himself
as Man No. 1 with Sheetrock
as herself
as himself
as Teammate No. 1
as Teammate No. 2
as Hall Boy
as Flight Attendant
as Janet's Secretary
as Himself
as himself
as himself
as Frog-Hair Boy
as Woman at Opus Meeting
News & Interviews for Music of the Heart
Critic Reviews for Music of the Heart
All Critics (90) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (33) | DVD (3)
Meryl dominates the proceedings. She simply disappears into the role, and the movie, for all its educational impulses, becomes about watching her do it.
The standard plotline of a teacher bearing the torch of liberal enlightenment to an educationally bereft group comes off rather dubiously here.
There really is a Roberta Guaspari, but this dull, wanly repetitive teacher movie fails to bring her story to life.
It may be premature to think Craven just doesn't spark outside the horror genre, but there's nothing here to suggest the opposite.
Another utterly bland lump of Hollywood crapola.
Music of the Heart is nothing if not a change of pace, and, unfortunately, Craven doesn't appear entirely comfortable in these new surroundings.
Audience Reviews for Music of the Heart
There is a lot of dramatic credibility attached to this film, which isn't warranted. Yes, Meryl Streep is the lead and she received an Oscar nomination for the role, but this film is less dramatic than much more soapy. This film falls into the sub-genre of "white woman saves inner city children" which also includes "Freedom Writers" and "Dangerous Minds," and overdone and quite manipulative genre that needs to be done away with. You will either find this true story enlightening and sweet hearted or overly dramatic, based on taste or being able to stomach racially motivated storylines. Though, in general, I find these kinds of films tedious and over the top, the last half hour did make me well up. Real life music teacher Roberta Guaspari is inspirational, and her story is at least treated with respect. It is also interesting to note this is the only film Wes Craven has directed that has nothing to do with horror or sci-fi, and for those unaware of his finesse, this is a great showcase of his talents. This is an entertaining film, if a little overdone in its execution.
Super Reviewer
Inspiring true story with good acting and a compelling narrative. A nice change of pace from Wes Craven.
Super Reviewer
it wasn't bad, despite the fact how much i despise the cliched inner city kids can do sports/be intelligent/sing/spell/play an instrument despite GREAT ODDS and there's always a random kid dying or doing drugs or something. and meryl streep is great at playing angry women.
Super Reviewer
Music of the Heart Quotes
| Roberta Tsavaras: | Go to the office right now. |