Opening

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Quartet (2013)

tomatometer

80

Average Rating: 6.6/10
Reviews Counted: 122
Fresh: 97 | Rotten: 25

It's sweet, gentle, and predictable to a fault, but Dustin Hoffman's affectionate direction and the talented cast's amiable charm make Quartet too difficult to resist.

81

Average Rating: 6.7/10
Critic Reviews: 37
Fresh: 30 | Rotten: 7

It's sweet, gentle, and predictable to a fault, but Dustin Hoffman's affectionate direction and the talented cast's amiable charm make Quartet too difficult to resist.

audience

66

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 9,747

My Rating

Movie Info

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

PG-13,

Drama, Comedy

Jun 18, 2013

$18.4M

The Weinstein Co. - Official Site External Icon

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Cast

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All Critics (122) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (97) | Rotten (25)

The first thing to note is that Hoffman has apparently had a grand time working with these professionals, all of whom as residents of the home are splendid.

February 7, 2013 Full Review Source: The New Republic
The New Republic
Top Critic IconTop Critic

"Quartet" is one of those movies that looks so effortless, it's easy to forget just how much could have gone wrong.

January 25, 2013 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

'Quartet" is a lovely little charm bracelet of a film, a fairy tale for the geriatric set blessed with a wonderful cast and a carry-on attitude.

January 25, 2013 Full Review Source: Detroit News
Detroit News
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Hoffman, in his directorial debut, has crafted a hopeful movie with a warm atmosphere, but one that's realistic, too.

January 24, 2013 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
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The premise may sound insufferable, but this light comedy about a nursing home for retired classical musicians isn't half-bad.

January 24, 2013 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Whatever his imprint on the film might be, it's overshadowed by the performances of its stellar, veteran cast, to whom Hoffman wisely gives ample rein.

January 24, 2013 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

For all the references to its characters' infirmities, Quartet delivers quite a cosy and light-hearted version of old age, but Hoffman's deft direction and his cast's note-perfect performances make it enormously entertaining.

June 23, 2013 Full Review Source: Movie Talk
Movie Talk

Dustin Hoffman waited 75 years for his directorial debut, and the resulting film makes one wish he had stepped behind the camera decades earlier.

June 18, 2013 Full Review Source: Journal News (Westchester, NY)
Journal News (Westchester, NY)

A quick and charming story of late life revival so surprisingly lithe you'd hardly believe it was a directorial debut.

March 18, 2013 Full Review Source: Movies With Butter
Movies With Butter

Dustin Hoffman, directing a film for the first time, gives us a film as comfortable as an old stuffed chair.

February 21, 2013 Full Review Source: Mark Leeper's Reviews
Mark Leeper's Reviews

The point isn't that Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut suffers in comparison with other films about old age, such as Amour. The point is that it's so spectacularly silly and sentimental, it simply suffers in comparison with other films.

February 20, 2013 Full Review Source: Film Threat
Film Threat

After Quartet, actor/director Dustin Hoffman should never direct again. Perfection like this cannot be repeated, and from here, everything is downhill.

February 15, 2013 Full Review Source: Tri-City Herald
Tri-City Herald

As the film's characters are reaching the end of their lives, loose ends will be tied and soul searching will be done. Hoffman gracefully orchestrates the story's emotional arc. Quartet is a lovely late-career surprise from a master actor.

February 15, 2013 Full Review Source: Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)

Unfolds with a respectable, well-heeled polish, seeming to believe that its admittedly wonderful cast lends it an automatic sophistication which inoculates it against charges of tedium.

February 7, 2013 Full Review Source: Shockya.com

At 75, Dustin Hoffman makes his directorial debut with 'Quartet' and demonstrates some real promise if the acting thing doesn't work out.

February 1, 2013 Full Review Source: KC Active
KC Active

Plays nice -- too nice

February 1, 2013 Full Review Source: Movie Habit
Movie Habit

Though sweet of demeanor, Dustin Hoffman's directoral debut is purely lightweight stuff, built around a flimsy plot and obvious choices every step of the way.

February 1, 2013 Full Review Source: Times-Picayune
Times-Picayune

"Quartet" asks the musical question, "Is there such a thing as too much Maggie Smith?" and answers it with a resounding "No."

January 31, 2013 Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The film is quiet and personal, as are others based on Harwood's work ("The Dresser," "Taking Sides") and that trait is enforced by Hoffman's straightforward and unforced direction.

January 27, 2013 Full Review Source: MediaMikes
MediaMikes

Unlike the devastating portrait of aging in Michael Haneke's Amour, Quartet favors cheeky over honest.

January 26, 2013 Full Review Source: RedEye
RedEye

While 'Quartet' seems to be part of a double feature with 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,' it does lack 'Exotic's' breadth of characterizations and humor.

January 25, 2013 Full Review Source: Video-Reviewmaster.com
Video-Reviewmaster.com

Of course, let's take care not to oversell this piece, which is the sort of genteel art-house offering that will thrill older audiences but seems unlikely to break out with those who don't know Downton Abbey from Howards End.

January 25, 2013 Full Review Source: Creative Loafing
Creative Loafing

Charming, funny, and sentimental, the film is exactly what you expect it to be, but very satisfying in achieving that goal.

January 25, 2013 Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle
Austin Chronicle

'Quartet' is one of the best movies you'll ever see about old age and while it does wind up as a celebration of life it doesn't flinch when dealing with some of the unpleasant realities of growing older.

January 25, 2013 Full Review Source: Suburban Journals of St. Louis
Suburban Journals of St. Louis

Audience Reviews for Quartet

I suspect Dustin Hoffman got his assistant director to do most of the directing as in the 'blooper reel' it was someone else shouting cut etc. I may be wrong. Anyway, the Quartet of actors are great although it is Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins who are the real ones to watch. The support comes from an array of theatre actors and musicians which was lovely to see, particularly in the end credits. The story is good, although the big Gala climax is a bit of a let down ('Tickets will sell like hot cakes' - only about 50 people in the room). It's nice. I'm afraid nice is probably the only suitable word for it, not that there is anything wrong with nice - far from it. It's just that I think it could have been....nicer!
July 25, 2013
SirPant

Super Reviewer

Great cast, Fantastic acting but not a fantastic movie. It's disappointing i wanted more comedy and i wanted to know more about each character.
If it wasnt for Billy Connolly bringing the comedy then i probably would have liked this movie even less.
January 15, 2013
FiLmCrAzY
Film Crazy

Super Reviewer

    1. Jean: You must understand, I was someone once.
    – Submitted by Christine H (8 months ago)
    1. Dr. Lucy Cogan: We have the chair lift, which will be much easier for you.
    2. Jean: What do I do when I get to the top, ski down?
    – Submitted by Thomas R (9 months ago)
    1. Dr. Lucy Cogan: The room has a beautiful suite in what we call the B-room.
    2. Jean: Sounds like a prison.
    – Submitted by Thomas R (9 months ago)
    1. Jean: Are you telling me to go home and smell the roses?
    – Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)
    1. Jean: You must understand, I was someone once.
    – Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)
View all quotes (5)

Discussion Forum

Topic Last Post Replies
quartet 5 months ago 4

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