For a delightful,
if leisurely-paced, time check out “Quartet” from director (yes, director)
Dustin Hoffman. The 2012 film stars Maggie Smith (I’ll watch anything with
Maggie Smith in it) along with other British stalwarts Tom Courtenay, Billy
Connolly and Michael Gambon. The plot, to borrow from the Rotten Tomatoes
website, is as follows:
“Beecham House is
abuzz. The rumor circling the halls is that the home for retired musicians is
soon to play host to a new resident. Word is, it's a star. For Reginald Paget
(Tom Courtenay), Wilfred Bond (Billy Connolly) and Cecily Robson (Pauline
Collins) this sort of talk is par for the course at the gossipy home. But
they're in for a special shock when the new arrival turns out to be none other
than their former singing partner, Jean Horton (Maggie Smith). Her subsequent
career as a star soloist, and the ego that accompanied it, split up their long
friendship and ended her marriage to Reggie, who takes the news of her arrival
particularly hard. Can the passage of time heal old wounds? And will the famous
quartet be able to patch up their differences in time for Beecham House's gala
concert?”
The answers to
these and other pressing questions are probably not in doubt, but there is
definitely satisfaction in watching seasoned pros do their utmost with the
material. Given the range of talent, it’s a safe bet that the performances
would have been sublime in any case, but since the director is Dustin Hoffman I
suspect he worked as an actor with other actors to elicit just a little more.
(In fact, given his reputation as a perfectionist, it must have been
interesting to see if he really worked his cast or just gave them free reign.
Probably a little of both.) (It’s definitely some kind of an acting lesson just
watching Maggie Smith, as the retired diva, sitting in her armchair at dusk,
listening to her old recordings, reminiscing and possibly regretting. No words,
no movement, just a brilliant actor simply being.)
Of course, I think
everything sounds just a little better with a British accent, including the
surprising – if justified – use of the f-bomb. I’m just saying…
For classical music (especially opera) buffs, there's a fair amount of music to be enjoyed, performed by real-life retired musicians and singers, all of whom are acknowledged at the end of the film. It's a touching tribute and a reminder that life doesn't have to end at retirement: the movie is as much about aging and growing old with spirit and dignity as anything else. As one character is fond of quoting (thanks to Bette Davis) "Old age isn't for sissies".
In any event, it’s
a delightful little gem of a picture that’s definitely worth a look. Buy some
scones, brew some tea and curl up with a cast of pros in “Quartet”.
