Quartet

First of all, I wish this is more popular in my country. This movie has a lot to share in its story and characters. While watching, you'll get flashbacks and flashforwards (if this word even exists) about your own life. It'll give you very many new perspectives about life, about the past, the present, and the future. Of course, without making you feel desperate and stressed.

It's packed really well in the plots, the characters brought the atmosphere to such a heavy and tense but breathable gravity. It talks about facing getting old, expiration of gifts, forgiveness, love, memories, in beautiful ways.

The only thing that makes me let two stars lost from the rating is it's too short, I really want it to be more. I want to see more about the characters in the movie. They are enchanting, their stories are wondrous, their interactions are spellbinding.

Great salute for everyone who made this movie happen.

As a 16 year old, it's safe to say that this obviously is not a film which is aimed at me at all, being based in a retirement home for old musicians where cracking jokes about opera is, you know, hilarious. In fact, the screening I was in was filled with those with white hair. It's not often that I feel out of place at a cinema, but I on this occasion I did.

Quartet, as you probably know, features a stellar cast of older actors; Maggie Smith and Tom Courtenay playing the reunited divorcées with a history; Billy Connolly as a pottering and senile old tenor, cracking double-entendres at every opportunity; and Pauline Collins, who in my opinion steals the show, as the ditzy ex-opera singer. What follows is an unashamedly predictable, but nevertheless solidly crafted and amusing drama that wouldn't look out of place on a Sunday afternoon TV slot. Minus the f-words, of course. Yes ,you can see its development from a mile off, and it rarely addresses the more serious and harrowing aspects of old-age as Haneke's 'Amour' did, but it's good natured, well scripted and amusing fun.

It's all through the typical rose-tinted, Downton-esque portrayal of Britain that we're all accustomed to, but with a cast like that and a gentle, sweet story, it's hard not to be eventually won over by its charm. I had a good time.

Set in a British retirement home for ageing musicians, Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut is a well-crafted drama, which deters away from negativity to focus on the bright side of elder life. Partly a homage to opera and music in general, it always serves as a swansong for those artists, who fade away forgotten by the passing time. Featuring a multitude of real-life famed English musicians, "Quartet" breathers life and significance with its delicate and graceful touch.

This exclusive and vast Beecham Home for retired musicians is forced to survive through the help of sponsors, who once a year show their gratitude to the retired artists, in exchange for a performance by the residents of this facility overflowing of outdated talent. Within its confines live three of a foursome - Cissy, Wilf and Regie - which gained international acclaim for their performance of "Rigoletto". Randy old wolf Wilf Bond (Billy Connolly) and the Alzheimer challenged Cissy Robson (Pauline Collins) were competent voices, but the quartets strengths lay in their star duo of ex-lovers Reginald Paget (Tom Courtenay) and Jean Horton (Maggie Smith). Reginald himself, unlike most of his comrades, has found a curious solace in old age, gracefully living out the days at the residence, while occasionally holding lectures on opera destined for the youth.

This idyll is seemingly corrupted when Jean Horton becomes the new inhabitant of the retirement home, thus reigniting old passions and unhealed wounds. However only a performance by the quartet of singers seems to have the power to save the home from closure...

Featuring a delightfully funny performance by Billy Connolly, reinforced by some welcome lightness from most other residence dwellers, "Quartet" does however falter at times with building the dramaturgy, often falling into light fluff filler with not enough punch. That said the sunny outlook on life on offer, which punctuates the bright sides of elder life, bypassing, albeit not ignoring, doom and gloom, may just fit better in such a slight picture, where room for change and happiness is but a smile away, irregardless of age-old vitriol. As mentioned Connolly steals the show, with his crowd-pleasing effort as one of the most vibrant inhabitants of the Beecham House, refusing to give in to his elderly inhibitions tirelessly making lewd proposals to the caretakers or to the local doctor Lucy Cogan (Sheridan Smith). Similarly well-worked is Pauline Collins as the mentally incapacitated Cissy, who struggles with her mind-lapses to live a dignified life. Here her friends come to her aide countless times with what is the most emotionally impactive element of the story, as this lovable, ever-smiling dame is victimised by her senile disability.

Dustin Hoffman's stylish debut seems confident in its concept, offering a carefree look at seniors, not offering much surprise, but catches on with its surefire optimism. Not often do you get to chance to see a movie featuring the elderly, which does not offer a philosophical outlook on death and spending eons of energy on presenting the inevitable. This occurs despite the lack of family, as most inhabitants of the institution focused their life on their art, instead of their family. Here however the protagonists manage to overlook the past, whether it be regrets, built-up animosities or the facades of former glory. Even the physical disabilities of age can't keep them down and out, when each of them must deal with bigger or smaller demons to be able to contemplate happiness.

I cried tears of joy at the end of this wonderful movie. The acting, the sets, the country side and most of all, the story. This comedy-drama revolves around a home for retired musicians, patterned after the real-life Casa di Riposo per Musicisti founded by Giuseppe Verdi. 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. Maggie Smith is a remarkable actor, and she is at her finest here. Michael Gambon has the most intense air about him, Pauline Collins is a delight to watch and, of course, Bill Connolly is a wee bit over the top here, though a delight to watch as well. This is a beautiful story, told by many talented actors and it deserves to be seen. Brava!

I saw this in Savannah (Film Festival), with a crowd that was averaging 50 and above. Everybody was laughing through out the whole picture, when I came out of the theater everybody only said nice things about it, I have never seen so many old people come out of a theater so happy!!!

Please see this film, NO MATTER WHAT AGE YOU ARE. People don't make movies for such a demographic, or at least rarely, this movie quite frankly made me weep, laugh, and have a range of feeling that I have not experience from any picture released this year!

Some moments hit you hard man, real hard, you might be laughing one scene and then the next scene you just realized that the 'thumb up' from one old man to the next gives chills on how life can end at any moment and at any time.

Dustin Hoffman, my man, you have made many people, many seniors of this country really happy, you have done what most always want but never will.

Thank You, to the cast and to the crew!!!!!