Heartburn (1986)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writers:

Nora Ephron (novel)
Nora Ephron (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 July 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Two Oscar Winning Stars Combine With An Oscar Winning Director [UK Theatrical]

Plot:

Rachel and Mark are both Washington journalists. They meet at a wedding and not long after they get married themselves...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Pregnancy | Columnist | Pregnant | Baby

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Rachel Samstat
Jack Nicholson	...	Mark Forman
Jeff Daniels	...	Richard
Maureen Stapleton	...	Vera
Stockard Channing	...	Julie Siegel
Richard Masur	...	Arthur Siegel
Catherine O'Hara	...	Betty
Steven Hill	...	Harry Samstat
Milos Forman	...	Dmitri
Mamie Gummer	...	Annie Forman (as Natalie Stern)
Karen Akers	...	Thelma Rice
Aida Linares	...	Juanita
Anna Maria Horsford	...	Della, Harry's Maid
Ron McLarty	...	Det. Andrew O'Brien
Kenneth Welsh	...	Dr. Appel

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer is not the only family member to feature in a bit part. Meryl's mother Mary Streep and her younger brother Dana Streep play dinner party guests.

Quotes:

Mark Forman: My wife's name was Kimberley. One of the first Kimberleys.
Rachel Samstat: My husband had hamsters.
Mark Forman: Me too.
Rachel Samstat: Not as a grownup you didn't. He had hamsters named Arnold and Shirley. And he was always whipping up little salads for them in the Slice-O-Matic and buying them extremely small sweaters at a pet boutique in Rego Park. Also, there was a certain amount of talking in squeaky voices.
Mark Forman: Both of you?
Rachel Samstat: Well, he was Arnold... and I was Shirley.

Movie Connections:

Featured in AFI Tribute to Meryl Streep (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Coming Around Again

Good but vague in purpose.

"Heartburn" has Mick Nichols at the helm with Streep and Nicholson starring and an excellent supporting cast including a bit debut by Kevin Spacy. In spite of all that, the film has only managed lukewarm commentary from critics and public alike. Taking a somewhat cynical look at marriage as it follows one couple (Streep & Nicholson) from nuptials through the birth of two children including infidelity, this well crafted flick muddles comedy with drama to a nebulous end. An enjoyable watch for mature people who've been there, "Heartburn" will likely disappoint others because of its uneventfulness and lack of purpose.