Rating: 
Summary: A teacher gives the system a fight it'll never forget.......
Review: Meryl Streep gives an amazing performance as the divorced and emotionally distraught Roberta Guispari-Tzvaras. The scenes in this movie are extremely emotional and thought provoking. The characters and situations in this movie are very real. This movie tells the tale of a newly divorced mother named Roberta (Streep) who is struggling to get her life back in order. Soon after meeting an old friend she has been given the opportunity to teach violin class at an elementary school in East Harlem, New York. While her teaching at first is a real struggle but in the end she turns these young children into amazing violinists and teaches them that the best way to succeed at something is work hard, be persistent and do it from your heart. There are great supporting performances by Angela Basset as the school principal, Aidan Quinn as Roberta's boyfriend, Cloris Leachman as Roberta's mother and Gloria Estefan as one of the teachers. The violin instrumentation by the children are amazing and absolutely breathtaking. There are even some great cameos by some of the greatest violinists ever such as Arnold Steinhardt, Itzhak Perlman, and many more. Meryl is the one who steals the show, her acting is both very emotional and believable and you can't help but cry along with her in some of the scenes in this movie. Music of the Heart is definitely a movie from the heart and tells the tale of a woman whose talent and drive were unstoppable and her love of music and how she gave the teachers and the school system a fight it would never forget.
Rating:
Summary: A True Inspiration
Review: This is a wonderful and heartwarming film taken from actual events and brought to life by the marvelous Meryl Streep. It is sentimental to be sure, but also an inspiration and a reminder to not 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 in New York as a substitute by principal Janet Williams (Angela Bassett). She is a single mother with two boys of her own and 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 it's 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, and then Brian, but finally grow up enough to want happiness for their mother and 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 and she and some of her finest students are able to raise the funds with a performance at Carnegie Hall, playing with Isaac Stern and others. Streep has a luminous and heartrending turn in this wonderful film. Cloris Leachman has a nice role as well as Claire's not so perfect mother. This film shows what can be accomplished if we make the effort to teach all 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.....
Rating: 
Summary: Streep's Show
Review: The great Meryl Streep stars in this true story of Roberta Gaspari, a woman who teaches violin music classes in East Harlem. It begins with how she got her start as a substitute, even bringing in her own violins, trying to build a program despite the skepticism of her colleagues and some parents. It follows through her story up to their climatic concert to try and save the program when budget cutbacks leave it by the wayside. The less interesting parts deal with the teacher's private life and both of her boyfriends. Streep is her usual terrific self, with a very real, honest, and detailed performance. The supporting cast of Angela Bassett, Aidan Quinn, Gloria Estefan, Jane Leeves, and Cloris Leachman is fine, although none of them is given much time to really shine. It's all Streep's show. The focus of the film needs to be sharper, spending more time on the school and students, and less time on her private life. The audience does get to know a few of her students, and that helps to involve the audience more in the film. It is the students that make the emotional core of this film as strong as it is, so that at the end, you can't help but cheer for the kids on the stage and the lady that made it all happen. And as a teacher, a film like this helps to remind me of the power we have to affect the lives of those we inspire!
Rating:
Summary: Music of the Heart...Excellent
Review: Giving Gloria Estefan her first film role, Meryl Streep an Oscar Nomination, and having Wes Craven as the director, "Music of the Heart," makes an impact on everyone's heart. The story line is based on a documentary entitiled something like "Small Wonders" or something like that. It is included as a bonus disc on DVD as well as the theme song's video and so much more! I strongly recommend getting this title on DVD! ***And if you are intreasted, also get the soundtrack!***
Rating:
Summary: a star is born
Review: meryll streep and gloria estafan shine in this moviethat tells a true story about friendship and its meaning it is a must to see
Rating:
Summary: Great Entertainment
Review: I loved this movie and want the soundtrack. As a teacher, I could definately identify with the struggles and triumphs of Meryl! I just love the movie and plan to share it with my students! I hope to get the soundtrack someday.
Rating: 
Summary: Music is the star
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: DEFINITELY WARMS THE HEART!
Review: This is one of those films that renews your faith in society. I thought Meryl Streep did a good job, and Angela Bassett played her part very well...full of spunk and enthusiasm! Shes so beautiful! Amazing what can be accomplished in this world when we practice vision and self discipline. I also thought it was refreshing to not be faced with lots of romantic scenes. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The violins were incredible, i love the sound...to me it can be mesmerizing! The movie takes a bit of time to really get into, but once youre there its def worth the wait! I dont think you will be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: The best music advocacy movie ever made!
Review: After the disaster that was "Mr. Holland's Opus," this movie is the exact opposite. Meryl Streep delivers a brilliantly understated role as a caring violin instructor in an inner city school. "Opus" offers not much of a plot, with horrible musical representation. The conducting, performing and musical faking is absolutely dreadful. "Heart," on the other hand offers excellent musical portrayal, and features such musical greats as Itzhak Perlman and Joshua Bell. Terrific acting, great plot - everything a music advocacy movie should be.!
Rating:
Summary: A touching and honest portrayal of a caring music teacher
Review: As a former music teacher, I can say that "Music of the Heart" is an honest portrayal of a caring music teacher who loves music, students and seeing those students develop their skills to the best of their abilities. During lean times in public schools, music is sadly among the first items to be reduced or dropped from the budget. Music teachers often have to resort to creative means to keep their programs alive, and the one that Roberta Gausperi (played by Meryl Streep) ends up with in this film would be the dream of most any music educator. "Music of the Heart" and "Mr. Holland's Opus" are two excellent films that accurately portray the impact a good music teacher can have on the lives of students, their families and their futures. Both films brought tears of joy to my eyes. Films like these make me wish I was teaching music again. Hopefully they will inspire others in this honorable profession.
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