Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases


Clara's Heart (1988)

Director: Robert Mulligan

Average user rating
No reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

When Clara (Goldberg) come to America from Jamaica to keep house for an irritating white middle class couple (Ontkean and Quinlan), all does not look well to the couple's little boy: after all Clara is black, cooks weird food, and 'talks funny'. Nevertheless, when his parents' marriage begins to crumble, young David turns to the newcomer, and soon learns that she is the most wonderful human being alive. In no time at all he's 'speaking her language' and generally getting to grips with the real world, while his parents disappear even further up their psychological backsides. Mulligan's adaptation of Joseph Olshan's novel doesn't merely flirt with pathos, it positively marries it. There are moments of genuinely touching comedy; Spalding Gray's nauseatingly condescending psychotherapist is spot on; and Whoopi Goldberg, admirable as always, fights a losing battle against a script which forces her to deliver the most appalling imitation of patois since C Thomas Howell in 'Soul Man'.

Author: MK

Time Out Film Guide


What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields




Most popular on this site


Top Stories

Has David Cronenberg turned tame?

Has David Cronenberg turned tame?

Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?

The 10 worst date movies

The 10 worst date movies

Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made

Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films

Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films

Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas

10 unlikely badboy biopics

10 unlikely badboy biopics

Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects

Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'

Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'

The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing

Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day

Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day

Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing