Starring Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay
Directed by Dustin Hoffman
Hollywood veteran Dustin Hoffman goes behind the camera for the first time in Quartet, based on the play by Ronald Harwood.Set in a retirement home for gifted British musicians who still perform an annual concert to celebrate Verdis birthday, this comedy-drama features several boisterous, if slightly over-the-top, performances from some of the UKs finest actors.
The serenity of the house is disrupted when legendary opera singer Jean Horton (Maggie Smith) arrives to live with the current residents.Jeans ex-husband Reginald (Tom Courtenay) still has unresolved issues with the diva and their former quartet, which also includes housemates Wilfred (Billy Connolly) and Cecily (Pauline Collins).Michael Gambon provides a spirited role as the flamboyant, self-appointed musical director of the home and Sheridan Smith keeps the script elevated as the affable resident doctor.
Courtenay and Smith bring some dignified poise to their respective roles, while Connolly becomes tiresome once his lewd jokes start to misfire and Collins is almost in danger of becoming bumbling comic relief once its revealed she is suffering from dementia.Despite a few missteps from several character portrayals that seem too animated, the cast works smoothly as an ensemble thanks to Hoffmans sensitive direction, John de Bormans crisp cinematography and a rousing musical score from Kle Savidge.
Though Quartet is predictable and never as compelling as it strives to be, Hoffman displays precision focus as a director and carves out a charming, if slightly flawed, niche for himself as a filmmaker his first time around.
