Is It Worth the Watch?

Funny and touching, 2012’s comedy-drama Quartet examines the challenges met by aging artists as their lives appear to have less and less meaning.

Although somewhat uneven in tone, the story of elderly opera singers in a retirement home, planning to sing together one last time for a benefit concert, is beautiful and compelling. The themes of romance, artistic integrity, memory loss and confidence in the older performing-artist population is presented with wit and humor, without ever disparaging its importance.

The entire cast offers outstanding performances, lead by Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Michael Gambon and Pauline Collins in a particularly brilliant and heartbreaking turn. The supporting cast, and even the extras, are comprised of retired stars of opera, symphony and theatre, and I defy anyone watching the closing credits not to puddle up as photos from the performers’ younger glory days are displayed while the soundtrack plays the quartet from Rigoletto.

Based on the hit West End play by Ronald Harwood, this was Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut.

Is It Worth The Watch? It’s moving, funny, rewarding, and life-affirming. And the acting is incredible. It’s definitely worth your time.

2012

98 minutes

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

Director – Dustin Hoffman

Writer – Ronald Harwood, based on his play of the same name