I'm so sad that Wes Craven is gone. Look how humbled he was to have directed Meryl Streep. I hope he saw these interviews where she spoke so highly of him. He seemed so damn lovely and genuine.
This is one of my favorite movies. Not only because of Meryl Streep, I hardly know/knew her work, but the cast-ensemble was so damn good. Cloris, Angela, the boys, Aidan. Everything was superbly acted, you get sucked into the story and the feelgoodending is damn good.
Meryl deserved an Oscar for this role as she was really playing the violin for her part in this. The cast was amazing and one of the best parts for me is that it stared my Glo-Worm Gloria Estefan!
What I love about this film is the fact that Meryl Streep and Angela Bassett were both cast and act in scenes together face to face. Both actresses are amazing both can portray as vulnerable and sensitive one film the next they are bold, daring, don’t take no crap attitude the next.
This proves that Wes Craven is NOT just a horror film guy...he's Wes Craven---whom is great at many genres; just an overall director icon. That's just like saying Jim Carrey is only a comedian (though I prefer to see him FUNNY) but he has had some success across the board. It just happens that Wes is best known for his horror movies and Jim is best in the comedy department.
Meryl did a superb job convincing people she can really play violin with the few pieces she played even if she had no previous music training. Many of the pieces that were used in the film for teaching in the movie sounded like they came from 1 of the books in the Suzuki music program. Don't know if Roberta Guaspari actually used the Suzuki method to teach in real-life. Back in my high school days our string teacher who taught violin, viola, cello & base mentioned besides having a teaching certificate from collage, you'd also need to get to a Gr. 6 Conservatory level in piano playing. There is a lot of music theory you actually lean by playing piano. There are probably many violin teachers who can play piano and those who can't. 2 comments in the movie: first regarding the African-American student Rachel in the movie who was recommended for the Juilliard music program for "gifted" students She was playing a Bach Minuet, the same piece that the students performed at Carnegie Hall except for the "vibrato" in her playing that made her a bit more advanced. Thought the director of the movie could have chosen a movement out of a concerto for her to practice. At least it would be more realistic to use a more difficult piece. The first time Meryl (Roberta) walk into Carnegie Hall and met Isaac Stern, she had her violin up and played open strings for sound check. In real-life Roberto would have played a little bit of a song even if it was just a simple tune. Somehow this left the audience wondering if Meryl actually learned to play violin or the director made it appeared that way.
Roberta and Her son Nick are amazing people. They even offered my son a scholarship for college when he became old enough and mentorship in his youth, no matter the distance. Unfortunately, my son went into the military and gave up playing the violin and cello. 🙄 Maybe someday he'll change his mind. I enjoyed him practicing as if these were my own personal concerts, while picturing him playing at Carnegie Hall too. So much for my dreams for his life 😂 Meryl did an outstanding job playing Roberta. I think she did her justice in her role. And yes, it was the Suzuki music program.
Did she play the violin really?! O.o She is so cute, love her so much, I haven't watch the movie yet because I can't buy it, I wanna download it but it's impossible but from the pieces I've seen it must be a brilliant performance, as usual in any of her movies.
no she just learn how to hold the violin and make it look like she could play the write said if he put a mic in front of her when she was playing it would sound bad and in a interview about this movie she said learning to play the violin was fucking hard. lol
