Quartet (2012) Directed by Dustin Hoffman. Starring: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon and Billy Connolly. IMDB says: “At a home for retired opera singers, the annual concert to celebrate Verdi’s birthday is disrupted by the arrival of Jean, an eternal diva and the former wife of one of the residents.”
I didn’t know what to expect going in to see a film about a retirement home for opera singers and the gala benefit they put on to keep the home open. I was easily the youngest person by 45 years in the theatre and I had a feeling I was NOT the demographic. But after ten minutes, I was surprised at how much I was enjoying the film. It was funny, the performances were solid and at times, I almost had tears in my eyes. Sure there were some missteps and some sudden tonal shifts, but the film powers through that and ends up being enjoyable. That being said, I am disappointed Dustin Hoffman didn’t get into directing sooner. His debut film looks beautiful, it’s wonderfully shot and I think working under directors like Bob Fosse, Barry Levinson, and John Schlesinger, helped him craft his own style. Nothing looks borrowed, nothing feels like another directors film, everything feels old-school yet looks modern, and it’s that feel that combines with the performances to make for such an enjoyable film.
Though Maggie Smith and Tom Courtenay are top billed, the film is stolen by Billy Connolly every time he steps on screen. His role as Wilf (short for Wilfred) is the perfect comedic pick me up when the film hits softer notes through the film. Smith and Courtenay have terrific chemistry making their relationship and love story that much more personal and relatable. But like I said, the film does have it’s missteps. Being that the setting is a retirement home, the characters all have a handicap of some sort, be it mental or physical, that conveniently flares up to “add” to the plot. This causes for tonal shifts that happen too quickly, then resolves themselves too quickly, making you wonder if it was necessary in the first place.
The music, if you’re into classical or opera, is wonderful. Even if you’re unfamiliar with that world of music, the music used is universal enough where you’ll recognize the pieces. The singing might not have been recorded live on set, but you’ll still be impressed at how someone so old can still have such powerful musical prowess. That being said, this film won’t be for everyone. But if you’re looking for a fun movie with british accents and a cute love story, you’ll enjoy it. Stick around during the credits to see pictures of the cast when they were younger and their musical background. Don’t rush out to see this in theatres, but definitely check it out when it becomes available on VOD or Netflix.
FTS SCORE: 79%