Quartet (2013)
Cissy, Reggie, and Wilf are in a home for retired musicians. Every year, there is a concert to celebrate Composer Giuseppe Verdi's birthday and they take part. Jean, who used to be married to Reggie, arrives at the home and disrupts their equilibrium. She still acts like a diva, but she refuses to sing. Still, the show must go on, and it does.
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Just perfect...
Expected more
It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
Quite delightful, actually. A terrific cast makes the movie that much more enjoyable, especially Billy Connolly and Maggie Smith. What a fantastic blend of comedy and drama. It was simply charming and I loved the ending!
What a brilliant idea Dustin Hoffman had to make a movie about old people. This can sound like a very boring and dull idea at first, but watching Quartet will prove you that there isn't actually more lively environment than a retirement house. The plot is really good and creative (I mean, a retirement house specially for old opera singers? who would've thought of that?), and Dustin Hoffman entirely deserves the award he got for Breakthrough Directing. The choice of actors was incredibly good. Dame Maggie Smith (Jean Horton) is really one of those actresses that'd be the right choice to play anything. I wouldn't even be bothered if she had to play Batman, and I'm convinced she'd be the right choice. Paulie Collins (Cissy Robinson) is absolutely adorable in her slightly-going-nuts rendition of an old opera performer. She's adorable and will her innocence will probably make you go "awww" a couple of times. And the idea of using actual retired opera performers as extras? Jesus that deserves all the credit in the world (plus you get to see what they looked like while performing in their career, another good reason to stick to the end). But actors aren't just what makes this movie awesome. Some shots are just magnificent. The way some scenes are filmed is mesmerizing. The setting is beautiful, typically British, and it will dazzle your eyes. Overall, Quartet is one of those movies that doesn't even remotely look interesting at first sight, but truly, once watched, your opinion won't be the same.
If you ever desire to see age as a fact of life, not as shameful mishap, you'll have to turn to British. Something weird happened to the American culture. People never lived longer, but they were never more invisible as they get older. Faces pulled so tight that they resemble Halloween mask, moronic slogans about 60's being new 40's, and elderly shoved out of the way all around. Except, of course the elderly that never upset anybody about realities of aging. And here comes this gentle, predictable, but nevertheless deeply touching light comedy about getting to terms with the inevitable. A lively group of marvelous actors, some magnificent classical music, beautiful manor. Nothing too original, but still such pleasure. And now we can go back to being terrified of the thing we can't possibly avoid, aging. And we wonder at the state of the world.
Apart from a couple of excruciating moments(the samba class and the patronising rap scene),"Quartet" is a very good film that differentiates between growing old and getting old. Yes a working knowledge of music made before the age of recorded sound is an advantage,but,as in Harwood's "The Dresser" where it helps if at least you've heard of Lear,it is not essential. Humanity is all that's required - a quality missing in some of the ageist comments on this site. You get old if you're lucky.If you're even luckier you retain some of the God - given talent that has set you apart from your fellows for half a century,and luckier still if you live amongst like - minded people. So "Quartet" is about a fortunate group of men and women who are still indulged and respected in their dotage - not a fate befalling many of the elderly in Britain today. "Beecham House" is alive with the sound of music,jazz,music hall,Bach,operetta and,mostly,gloriously,the grandest of opera. On Giuseepe Verdi's birthday it is the tradition to perform his music and some of the residents chose to sing the quartet from "Rigoletto" in all its soaring brilliance. I have reservations about the twinkly - eyed Mr B.Connolly but they are assuaged by knowing he was only third choice for the role. The other leads are perfect,particularly Miss P.Collins who hits just the right note as a sufferer from early stage dementia. It is unlikely to fit comfortably on the shelves of admirers of "Grand Theft Auto" or "Fast and Furious",but admirers of gentle boutique movies will appreciate its qualities.