Quartet
Quartet is one of the January movies that I have already had the privilege of seeing and this really is a movie that is not to me missed.
The movie lit up the big screen at the BFI London Film Festival earlier this year and marks the directorial debut of Dustin Hoffman.
Hoffman may have two Oscars under his belt and over fifty years worth of acting experience but this is the first time that we see him translate that talent into the director’s chair.
The movie is based on the play by Ronald Harwood and Harwood himself has adapted the story into a screenplay.
But it is the cast that you really should be getting excited about as Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins, Billy Connolly, Michael Gambon and Sheridan Smith all star.
Last year The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel demonstrated that an older cast list was a major hit with cinema go-ers and that trend looks set to continue with Quartet.
Quartet is a funny, charming and moving film about growing old and readjusting to old age and the cast are quite simply on top form.
Hoffman in the director’s chair is nothing short of a triumph as he has got the best out of his experienced and talented cast.
Lifelong friends Wilf (Connolly) and Reggie (Courtenay), together with former colleague Cissy (Collins), are residents of Beecham House, a home for retired opera singers.
Every year on Giuseppe Verdi’s birthday, the residents unite to give a concert to raise funds for their home.
But when Jean Horton (Smith), a former grande dame of the opera fallen on hard times, also Reggie’s ex-wife and the fourth and most celebrated member of their former quartet, moves into the home to everyone’s surprise, the plans for this year’s concert start to unravel.
Quartet is a movie that looks great, sounds great and shows a bunch of talented stars, both in front of the camera and behind, at the top of their game.
Quartet is released 1st January
Tagged in Billy Connolly Maggie Smith Dustin Hoffman