Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Grace of My Heart Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 30, 2020

After making low-budget movies about characters in tight situations, writer/director Allison Anders aims for something grander with 1996’s “Grace of My Heart.” It’s a musical journey with a female POV, unofficially based on the experiences of Carol King as she tried to make her way through a male- dominated music industry, continuing Anders career pursuit of female-centric stories, exploring all the struggle and suppression the lead character encounters. The helmer’s goal appears to be the creation of an epic featuring lots of personalities and locations, also tracking the development of a bright spirit diminished by outside forces, learning to trust her instincts again. The idea of “Grace of My Heart” is pure, but something happened to the endeavor on the way to a final cut, with clunky editing and a few mediocre performances throttling the overall arc of experience Anders is trying to communicate.

Making plans to become a singer/songwriter, Edna (Illeana Douglas) struggles with her dismissive mother, Mrs. Buxton (Christina Pickles), trying to overcome doubt to achieve her dream. After winning a contest, a move to New York City exposes a music industry than doesn’t want her voice, only her songs, with Edna soon contacted by Joel (John Turturro), a producer who craves her talent, relocating the young woman to the Brill Building. Making a name for herself by crafting hit pop songs, Edna soon falls for Howard (Eric Stoltz), a colleague who believes in tunes with more integrity, and she befriends Cheryl (Patsy Kensit), another female professional trying to find her way. As the years pass, Edna manages the concerns of others, has a baby, and deals with various men, including radio personality John (Brice Davidson) and California rocker Jay (Matt Dillon), taking her life in many directions as the hunger to express herself remains.

“Grace of My Heart” is at its most focused during the first half of the feature, which deals with Edna’s first spark of inspiration, staying close to the character as she enters a singing contest, exposed to the power of Doris (a fantastic Jennifer Leigh Warren), the lead vocalist of a girl group who provides the newcomer with an idea of stage power and personal expression. A move to New York City soon follows, with Edna realizing her pop star services are no longer needed, pushed out of the spotlight by the rise of male-centered rock groups, though Joel is aware of her gifts, putting her to work at the Brill Building. The legendary songwriting factory is perhaps the reason Anders wanted to make “Grace of My Heart,” lovingly recreating the energy of the rooms as bright people craft unforgettable hits, though the music used in the picture are new compositions with distinct period sounds.

In the Brill Building, Edna grows as a songwriter, learning how to deal with artists and plunge the depths of feeling to make a hit. “Grace of My Heart” examines her interactions with various artists, including Doris and her chart-topping focus, and there’s Kelly (Bridget Fonda), a closeted lesbian pop star who needs help finding her way through a love song. Moments of creation are quite appealing in the film, watching Edna sharpen her confidence and deal with others. There’s a domestic side to the script as well, with Howard proving to be a terrible husband, while John is a warmer presence in her life.

Relationships are key to Anders, and she offers moments of clarity, but as the feature unfolds, storytelling gets choppy, with “Grace of My Heart” soon playing like a four-hour-long picture that was cut in half and rushed into theaters. Subplots start to get lost and ideas are presented without enough emphasis, with topics such as birth control and abortion requiring more time to explore. Editing loses refinement (three people are credited here for the job, including Thelma Schoonmaker, suggesting a behind-the-scenes struggle to find the movie), going blunt with transitions, and focus stars to walk away from Edna, with the whole Jay experience (Dillon plays a version of Brian Wilson) bogging the film down in crude depictions of mental illness, with Dillon asked to communicate behavior way beyond his professional capabilities. “Grace of My Heart” grows muddled and awkward as it tries to find Edna again, leading to disappointingly shapeless second hour.

Grace of My Heart Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Grace of My Heart" is an offering from the Universal Pictures vault, and looks like a typical catalog release. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers an older scan of the feature, with softness present and baked-in filtering, though not to any extreme degree. Detail isn't entirely erased, with faint facial textures present and period outfits appreciable. Brill Building decoration and sound booth particulars are also open for study. Colors are acceptable, with a colder palette for New York City events, and a warmer one for the Los Angeles side of the story. Clothing choices bring out decent primaries, and skintones are natural. Grain is chunky. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in good shape.

Grace of My Heart Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix delivers a full sound for "Grace of My Heart," with musical selections offering precise instrumentation and presence in the surrounds, enveloping the listener in soundtrack selections and scoring. Dialogue exchanges are sharp and emotive, handling argumentative surges well. Atmospherics are basic but evocative, with urban street activity and beach life present. Low-end isn't hearty, but percussion is appreciable.

Grace of My Heart Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director Allison Anders.

• Making Of (41:47, SD) is a 1999 overview of the "Grace of My Heart" production experience, featuring interviews with cast and crew. Anders remembers her early handwritten ideas for the story, which were scooped up by a trusted producer and brought to Martin Scorsese, who helped the picture get made. Plot points are highlighted and screenwriting choices are shared, with Anders looking to "honor songwriting" with the work. Appreciation for the director is included, while a good chunk of the featurette covers the history of the Brill Building. Musical offerings are dissected with help from producer Larry Kline, who made an effort to recreate period sounds while recruiting artists such as Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach to contribute to the soundtrack.

• Deleted Scenes (31:43, SD) bring some needed dimension to "Grace of My Heart," thought not nearly enough to feel like a completed film. Highlights include Howard in courtship mode, more picnic time with John, a moment of heartbreak for Cheryl, fan mail for Edna from Paul McCartney, a showdown with Mrs. Buxton, Edna and Howard discussing her move to California, and intimacy with Jay. Also offered are three full musical performances, including a song from Jill Sobule. Oddly, some of these scenes are offered as B-roll footage from the "Grace of My Heart" shoot.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:35, SD) is included.

Grace of My Heart Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The intent of "Grace of My Heart" is there, to provide some illumination on female participation in musical expression and business matters, and Douglas is certainly up for the part, treating her big starring opportunity with the care it deserves. There's music world history to enjoy and bright songs, but the sweep Anders is trying to create doesn't come through. She does fine with a limited budget, capturing period atmosphere, but Edna's evolution isn't smoothly communicated, leading to a disjointed feature about a potentially interesting life.