I'll tell you why so serious

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Music of the Heart is pretty predictable. If you've seen Goodbye Mr. Chips, To Sir With Love, Educating Rita, Dead Poet's Society, Dangerous Minds, and/or Mr. Holland's Opus you pretty much know what to expect. What is a little unexpected is that this inspirational and moving film is directed by screammeister Wes Craven (Scream, Nightmare on Elm Street, etc., etc., ad infinitum, ad nauseum). Even though the story has been told before this is based on the true story of a woman struggling to teach violin in East Harlem. Meryl Streep plays Roberta, a mother with two children, who has been deserted by her husband. A friend encourages her to apply for this teaching job and the rest of the story is fairly predictable.In spite of its predictability, the film has some very touching moments and is truly inspirational. Meryl Streep at her worst is better than most actors at their best, and Streep is excellent in this role. Add a great supporting cast that includes Angela Bassett, Gloria Estefan, Cloris Leachman and Aidan Quinn, and you have a well-told story with a tried and true theme. Technically, Run, Lola, Run is the more innovative film, but there is a message in Music of the Heart that rings true and inspires. I thought of Bob Briner as I watched this film. Bob's message of roaring lambs is consistent with the theme of Music of the Heart. We should spend less time cursing the darkness, and more time lighting candles. We waste too much time lamenting the emptiness and void of a postmodern world. The message of Music of the Heart is that instead of lamenting the silence, we should burst forth in song.

Roberta Guaspari (Meryl Streep) and her two kids move back home with her mom Assunta (Cloris Leachman) after her husband run off with her friend. She never made it as a concert violinist and teach sparingly as she is pulled around the world by her navy husband. An old friend Brian Turner (Aidan Quinn) directs her to Principal Janet Williams (Angela Bassett) who reluctantly hires her as a substitute music teacher in the East Harlem inner city school. All the teachers hate her except Isabel Vasquez (Gloria Estefan).It's a pretty traditional biopic by director Wes Craven who usually does horror. It's not a particularly original true story but it's an effective one. The most impressive thing in this is Meryl Streep. She holds the movie together. There are all the classic hurdles like the intransigent teachers, poverty, angry parents, violent neighborhood, and tough luck kids. Through it all, Streep works her butt off pulling the right heartstrings.

First of all, Streep practiced the violin for 6 hours a day in preparation for this role. And of course, it shows. I've studied piano for 10 years and so much of the music and musical places featured in this film were so fun to watch. The final scene in Carnegie Hall was super, plus a couple of THE violinists. Wow.All in all, I just love this movie. All of the cast was good and the scope of the material covered was also fleshed out. You don't need to play the violin to appreciate it, but it does help if you SOMETHING about music and the drive to succeed in the field.Just watch it, rent it, and learn something about music and the drive the fuels people to succeed at it. And learn something about the notable violists that appear in the film. They are considered some of the best. And if you listen to their recordings, you can see why!

Meryl Streep was excellent as usual and the true story in which this is based on is truly heartfelt. It tells the story of a woman called Roberta (streep) who needs a job and finds one as a violin teacher. Very soon she inspires all her students to play and enjoy themselves. All support cast including the children were very good. The music pieces were also very good and when the movie was over I was left with a smile on my face long afterwards. I truly did enjoy this movie and would recommend it to anyone. All the themes are perfect so an entire family can easily enjoy it. I suggest to anyone who is reading this review. GO OUT AND SEE THIS MOVIE! You will not be disappointed!