Grace of My Heart (1996)

hyped garbage

Admirable film.

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Edna Buxton (Illeana Douglas) is a steel heiress from Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. She wins a local singing contest in 1958 with a promised contract. However it's a struggle to get anywhere when producer Joel Milner (John Turturro) takes pity on her. She becomes successful as a songwriter renamed as Denise Waverly. She later marries songwriter Howard Caszatt (Eric Stoltz) and they have a girl together. Joel hires brit songwriter Cheryl Steed (Patsy Kensit) who would become her friend. More personal and professional challenges follow. She divorces Howard. She follows Jay Phillips (Matt Dillon) to California.There are some good moments but the movie is trying to cover too much of this character's life. For example, I like the fluffy pop singer played by Bridget Fonda who turns out to be gay struggling in her private life as she hides it in her public life. Of course, she comes in and then fairly quickly, she's gone. It becomes like a long string of random fictional events happening to a character that isn't particularly compelling. I do like Illeana Douglas but she's not really the lead actress type. She's a great character actress but she can't anchor a movie like this. She and she alone has to lead the audience through the various characters that come in and out of her life. She needs to be a bigger actress. Allison Anders has written a lot of things for Waverly to deal with but as a director, she doesn't have the style (or the money) to make this cinematic. The music isn't particularly memorable but they fit the era. Certainly this movie could use some great songs.

It's Martin Scorsese day. he didn't direct this one, but produced it, and it's a winner. After 3 and a half hours of Bob Dylan, I was enchanted by the songs here. The soundtrack is a real tribute to love in all it's forms and fashions.Writer/Director Allison Anders, who started accumulating award nominations from her first movies (Border Radio; Sugar Town; Gas, Food Lodging) gives us a beautifully flowing story of a singer trying to break into the business, but settling for a career as a songwriter. It featured a lot of singers from the era, including one inspired by Lesley Gore, a favorite of mine, and who helped write songs for the movie.Illeana Douglas (Stir of Echoes, Happy, Texas, Cape Fear) was magnificent as the "Carol King"-inspired lead, as was John Turturro (The Big Lebowski, Fear X) as her manager.If you like the music of the sixties, and you want to see the first time a woman's water breaks on film, then this is it. A good use of your time.

What fun at "Grace of My Heart" to pick out the cinema a clef references! Evoking early rock 'n' roll as nicely as one of my favorite rock movie "American Hot Wax" with wonderful cameos by Chris Isaak, Shawn Colvin, the Williams Brothers, J Mascis all playing others recognizably. The audience came out all discussing who was whom and the accuracy of depictions despite the fictive disclaimer.And this must be the first movie where the writer/director thanks her child care providers and lists them! It will be worth getting this movie on video just to slow down the credits. (originally written 11/14/1996)

As a former singer with a female group from the 70's, called "SOFTOUCH", I could really appreciate the movie, "Grace of My Heart". I thought the movie was very authentic in its presentation of the artists' struggles with becoming a "singer" in his or her own right, as well as a writer. It was not a popular position to be in in the 50's and 60's. I love Ms. Douglas. I thought she did an exceptional job with the material and the singing. John Tuturro was great as the manager and provided great comedic relief. Since his performance, I have gone out of my way to see everything he has performed in. He is an awesome actor! Most importantly, I enjoyed the music of Burt Bacharach. There is none other to compare. His songs are historic! My only concerns are these: 1) I would have appreciated the female vocalist, Kristin Vigard recording the hit "God Give Me Strength". I thought her voice was much more haunting and convincing. 2) Where can I purchase the Song Book for the sound track? I am now a teacher of middle school students in the arts program, and there are several clips from the movie that I have been able to show my students - and they love this movie! I cannot show the entire movie for the obvious sexual content however, they get a kick out of the music, storyline and the progress of the time including the wardrobe changes.