Quartet (2013)
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.
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.
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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 9,747
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
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Cast
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Maggie Smith
Jean, Jean Horton -
Tom Courtenay
Reggie Paget, Regina... -
Billy Connolly
Wilf, Wilf Bond, Wil... -
Pauline Collins
Cecily Robson, Cissy... -
Michael Gambon
Cedric, Cedric Livin... -
Sheridan Smith
Dr. Lucy Cogan -
Andrew Sachs
Bobby Swanson -
Gwyneth Jones
Anne Langley -
Trevor Peacock
George -
David Ryall
Harry -
Michael Byrne
Frank White -
Ronnie Fox
Nobby -
Patricia Loveland
Letitia Davis -
Eline Powell
Angelique -
Luke Newberry
Simon -
Shola Adewusi
Sheryl -
Jurmayn Hunter
Joey -
Aleksandra Duczmal
Marta -
Denis Khoroshko
Tadek -
Sarah Crowden
Felicity Liddle -
Colin Bradbury
Olly Fisher -
Patricia Varley
Octavia -
Ronnie Hughes
Tony Rose -
Jack Honeyborne
Dave Trubeck -
John Rawnsley
Nigel -
Nuala Willis
Norma McIntyre -
Melodie Waddingham
Marion Reed -
Cynthia Morey
Lottie Yates -
John Heley
Leo Cassell -
Graeme Scott
Fred -
John Georgiadis
Bill -
Ita Herbert
Regina -
Ania Duczmal
Eva -
Cyril Davey
"Flat piano" Residen... -
Esmy Penry-Davey
Young Pianist -
Virginia Bradbury
Daisy -
Isla Mathieson
Young Violinist Isla -
Ionia Mathieson
Young Violinist Iona -
Claudia Mellor
Lady Gaga Girl -
Penelope Zagoul
Cleaner -
Helen Bradbury
Daisy's Mother -
Jennifer Spillane
Waltzing Neurologist
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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.
Top Critic"Quartet" is one of those movies that looks so effortless, it's easy to forget just how much could have gone wrong.
'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.
Hoffman, in his directorial debut, has crafted a hopeful movie with a warm atmosphere, but one that's realistic, too.
The premise may sound insufferable, but this light comedy about a nursing home for retired classical musicians isn't half-bad.
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.
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.
Dustin Hoffman waited 75 years for his directorial debut, and the resulting film makes one wish he had stepped behind the camera decades earlier.
A quick and charming story of late life revival so surprisingly lithe you'd hardly believe it was a directorial debut.
Dustin Hoffman, directing a film for the first time, gives us a film as comfortable as an old stuffed chair.
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.
After Quartet, actor/director Dustin Hoffman should never direct again. Perfection like this cannot be repeated, and from here, everything is downhill.
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.
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.
At 75, Dustin Hoffman makes his directorial debut with 'Quartet' and demonstrates some real promise if the acting thing doesn't work out.
Plays nice -- too nice
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.
"Quartet" asks the musical question, "Is there such a thing as too much Maggie Smith?" and answers it with a resounding "No."
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.
Unlike the devastating portrait of aging in Michael Haneke's Amour, Quartet favors cheeky over honest.
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.
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.
Charming, funny, and sentimental, the film is exactly what you expect it to be, but very satisfying in achieving that goal.
'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.
Audience Reviews for Quartet
Super Reviewer
If it wasnt for Billy Connolly bringing the comedy then i probably would have liked this movie even less.
Super Reviewer
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- Jean: You must understand, I was someone once.
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- Dr. Lucy Cogan: We have the chair lift, which will be much easier for you.
- Jean: What do I do when I get to the top, ski down?
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- Dr. Lucy Cogan: The room has a beautiful suite in what we call the B-room.
- Jean: Sounds like a prison.
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- Jean: Are you telling me to go home and smell the roses?
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- Jean: You must understand, I was someone once.
Discussion Forum
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| quartet | 5 months ago | 4 |
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Foreign Titles
- Quartett (DE)
- El cuarteto (ES)
