|
MUSIC OF THE HEART Send This Review to a Friend
Meryl Streep never ceases to amaze, whether she has to learn to sound Polish in "Sophie's Choice" or look as if she's a seasoned violinist in the new "Music of the Heart." By now her acting itself is a given. Streep so thoroughly inhabits the role of dedicated teacher Roberta Guaspari that Ms. Guiasperi may start thinking she's Streep. As many know by now, "Music Of the Heart" is based on the true story of how a determined teacher introduced a violin program at a school in East Harlem and when budget dictates threatened to end the classes that had meant so much to so many children, she and her supporters battled so hard that a benefit Carnegie Hall concert at which her students performed included participation by Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman.
"Music of the Heart," written by Pamela Gray and co-starring Aidan Quinn, Angela Bassett and Gloria Estefan, was directed by Wes Craven, an unlikely choice in view of his having earned his reputation for horror movies. But Craven comes through admirably. True, this venture presses too many cutesy buttons, but nonetheless, the story is so heartwarming and the cause so uplifting, that the excess schmaltz can be forgiven. I mean, for example, when everyone meeting in Guaspari's home gets excited at a victory, did Craven have to cut to the family dog jumping up and down too? But that seems like nitpicking when you share the thrill of the school's orchestra of young violinists proudly performing in triumph.
The overall gratifying effect is largely do to the portrait etched by Streep as the mother of two sons who sets out to do something with her life after her husband leaves her for another woman. Whatever the real person is like, in Streep's performance we meet someone who is principled, dedicated and emotionally vulnerable in her basically lonely pursuits. She has a strong relationship with her sons, but lacks a new romantic involvement, although there's a hint of a potential one.
I read a complaint that the real conditions at the school involved were distorted to make them appear worse for the purposes of making the plot more sensational. That may be, but in strictly movie terms, the story works very well, if you overlook the button-pushing. It's a joy to see a film that celebrates music and the passion to give school children a means of self-expression that will make them feel good about themselves. A Miramax Films release.
|