Quartet

***
Release Date: January 1st 2013

At a home for retired musicians, 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.

Director: Dustin Hoffman

Starring: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins

This film couldn't offend anyone even if it tried. It's not the greatest piece of work, but it is a calm, easy going film with some of the finest actors ever to have graced our screens, not to mention a good effort from Dustin Hoffman as director.

Reggie (Courtenay), Cissy (Collins) and Wilfred (Connolly) are retired musicians, living in a retirement home specifically for talented entertainers. As they prepare for the annual celebration of Verdi's birthday, a new guest arrives, Jean, much to the disappointment of Reggie, who was previously married to her. Later on, the trio try to entice Jean into joining them as a quartet, and perform at the birthday bash after so many years apart.

Quartet is a standout comparison to Best Exoctic Marigold Hotel, mainly because films with a maturer ensemble have been great to watch, not to mention a screen full of the finest English talent to have ever graced cinema, topped with a cast that making people laugh comes naturally.

There is a big struggle to relate their music taste to contemporary art, as Reggie teaches a group of students the history of opera/classical music and tries to compare it to the likes of Rap and Hip-Hop. Quartet may not be for everyone purely on the basis of taste in music. 

All the main characters stand out one way or another. Gambon is the head planner of the birthday event, and after seeing him in the Harry Potter films, it's a difficult transition from good to obnoxious and means he can be when things aren't going his way. Reggie does nothing but brood and moan for much of the film, but it's easy to see his conflict of interest through his emotions whenever Jean is around him.

The performances that match the singing talent are Cissy, as she tries to make the best of everything whilst occasionally losing her memory and going off the rails. As the truth hits home to all the others that this is the last place/thing they could do. The other is Wilfred, and his futile attempts and remaining young at heart, dishing out the charm and compliments to any female who comes his way.  

Overview: Don't expect a lot to come out of Quartet, but it's easy watching, topped with the actor's abilities make it worth while.