Grace Of My Heart (1996)

In 1958, a budding singer/songwriter (Illeana Doulgas) moves to New York but while no one is interested in her as a singer, a producer (John Turturro) hires her as a songwriter working out of the famous Brill building. The film follows her journey, professionally and personally, through the pop girl groups, English invasion, psychedelic era and eventually the singer/songwriter she set out to be. Directed by Allison Anders. Some films have hit written all over them but then, inexplicably, it never happens. This film never found its audience though almost everyone I know who's seen it seems to have an affection for it. The film draws from real performers, songwriters and music producers of the era. Douglas's heroine is an obvious stand in for Carole King, Turturro is clearly doing Phil Spector, Matt Dillon a stand in for Brian Wilson (of the Beach Boys), Bridget Fonda's barely closeted lesbian is Lesley Gore (who wrote Fonda's song), Patsy Kensit and Chris Isaak are songwriters Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry, Dave and Andrew Williams (Andy's nephews) are doing the Everly Brothers etc. The songs which were written by several songwriters (Burt Bacharach, Joni Mitchell, Elvis Costello, Los Lobos, Carole Bayer Sager among them) are a terrific pastiche of songs of their period but work on their own too. With Eric Stoltz, Bruce Davison, Lucinda Jenney and Jennifer Leigh Warren.