Quartet

 

Quartet is a new movie out directed by the one and only “Tootsie”!… err, Dustin Hoffman!

And what a movie he chose for his first directorial movie!

Right off the bat I will tell you that this movie won’t be for everyone. But it certainly broke barriers for me!

Storyline

Cecily, Reggie, and Wilfred are in a home for retired musicians. Every year, on October 10, there is a concert to celebrate 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.

  Dame Maggie Smith is, as always, fabulous!

I thought Tom Courtenay was new to me, but you will be surprised to click on his link and see what else he  has been in.

Billy Connelly. I haven’t seen him in ages but he has been active in his career. For a few moments all I could say is, “I know that voice”..then I realized I remember him most from  “Mrs. Brown” which was another fabulous movie!

I have to admit I didn’t know Pauline Collins but I will from now on.

And you’d have to be one of the few people in the world not to have seen Harry Potter to not know who Michael Gambon is !

Maggie Smith: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001749/?ref_=tt_cl_t1

Pauline Collins:  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0172604/?ref_=tt_cl_t4

Tom Courtenay: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0183822/?ref_=sr_1

Billy Connolly: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175262/bio

Michael Gambon: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002091/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Quartet: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441951/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Dustin Hoffman: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000163/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

And last but not least.. the Director ..Dustin Hoffman.

 

I think I’d like to pick his brain to find out why he chose a movie like this to be his first directorial debut.  The movie is filled with white hair (and no one had to bleach it).  It is filled with Opera singing and Opera music.  (I fear the younger movie goers are not going to stand in line for this one)  But behind all of that, there are these magnificent actors and actresses with more experience than the most popular actor of today. There is a story of “time gone by”.  And in the midst of all of that… there is a love story.  In other words: no special effects, no high shoot ‘em up chases, no sex or scandal… hell, one might say there wasn’t anything here to direct!..  one MIGHT say that, but I wouldn’t. 

For his first outing as a director Dustin Hoffman brought to the screen A Story. One that needed nothing but a good script and a group of really good actors. 

Bravo Dustin Hoffman!  You did good!

And just in case you go to see this movie… watch the credits!  You will find that many of the retired musicians and singers in the movie were the actual musicians and singers.