Heartburn (film)

Heartburn (film)
Name	Heartburn
Director	Mike Nichols
Producer	Mike Nichols, Robert Greenhut
Screenplay	Nora Ephron
Based on	Heartburn, Nora Ephron
Starring	Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Jeff Daniels, Maureen Stapleton
Music	Carly Simon
Cinematography	Néstor Almendros
Editing	Sam O'Steen
Studio	Paramount Pictures
Distributor	Paramount Pictures
Released	1986, 07, 25
Runtime	108 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Gross	$25.3 million

Heartburn (film). *Heartburn* is a 1986 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Nora Ephron, based on her semi-autobiographical 1983 novel of the same name. The film stars Meryl Streep as food writer Rachel Samstat and Jack Nicholson as her charismatic but unfaithful husband, columnist Mark Forman, chronicling the tumultuous breakdown of their marriage in Washington, D.C. and New York City. With a supporting cast including Jeff Daniels and Maureen Stapleton, and a soundtrack by Carly Simon, the film blends sharp humor with poignant drama, offering a fictionalized glimpse into Ephron's own highly publicized divorce from journalist Carl Bernstein.

Plot

Food critic and cookbook author Rachel Samstat meets charismatic Washington Post columnist Mark Forman at a wedding in New York City, and after a whirlwind romance, they marry and settle in Washington, D.C.. Their life together, which includes the birth of two children, is filled with Rachel's culinary experiments and Mark's high-profile career, but cracks begin to show as Mark's prolonged absences and erratic behavior strain their relationship. After moving back to New York City, Rachel discovers Mark's infidelity while heavily pregnant with their second child, leading to a painful separation, a period of emotional turmoil, and a climactic, food-flinging confrontation before an ambivalent reconciliation is attempted.

Cast

* Meryl Streep as Rachel Samstat * Jack Nicholson as Mark Forman * Jeff Daniels as Richard * Maureen Stapleton as Vera * Stockard Channing as Julie Siegel * Richard Masur as Arthur Siegel * Catherine O'Hara as Betty * Steven Hill as Harry Samstat * Milos Forman as Dmitri * Karen Akers as Genevieve * Anna Maria Horsford as Dellia * Joanna Gleason as Annie * Kevin Spacey as a subway thief * Natalie Stern as Annie Forman * Yakov Smirnoff as a cab driver

Production

The screenplay was adapted by Nora Ephron from her own bestselling roman à clef, which was widely understood to be based on her marriage to and divorce from Watergate scandal reporter Carl Bernstein. Director Mike Nichols, known for films like The Graduate, was attracted to the material's blend of comedy and heartbreak. Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson were cast in the lead roles, with Streep undergoing preparation that included cooking lessons to portray the food-obsessed Rachel authentically. Principal photography took place on location in New York City and Washington, D.C., with cinematography by the acclaimed Néstor Almendros.

Release

*Heartburn* was released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on July 25, 1986. The film's marketing leaned heavily on the star power of Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson, as well as the notoriety of its source material. It was later released on VHS and has subsequently become available on DVD and digital streaming platforms. The film had its network television premiere on ABC.

Reception

Upon release, *Heartburn* received mixed reviews from critics; while the performances of Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson were widely praised, some found the film's tone uneven, vacillating between bitter comedy and domestic drama. The film grossed approximately $25.3 million at the North American box office. It was nominated for several awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Streep. Over time, the film has been reappraised as a perceptive and witty depiction of marital disillusionment, with particular acclaim for Ephron's screenplay.

Soundtrack

The film's score and songs were composed and performed by singer-songwriter Carly Simon. The soundtrack album, released by Arista Records, features the original song "Coming Around Again," which became a major hit for Simon and is closely associated with the film. Other notable tracks include "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "The Love of My Life," which underscore key emotional moments in the narrative. Simon's music provides a poignant, melodic counterpoint to the story's themes of love, betrayal, and resilience.

Category:1986 films Category:American romantic comedy-drama films Category:Films directed by Mike Nichols Category:Paramount Pictures films