A Late Quartet
Members of a world-renowned string quartet struggle to stay together in the face of death, competing egos and insuppressible lust.
Director:
Yaron Zilberman
Cast:
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener
Screenplay:
Seth Grossman (screenplay), Yaron Zilberman (screenplay),
Screening Date:
Oct 27, 2012
| Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66.2% | 23.4% | 5.2% | 5.3% | 0.0% |
“The film works on multiple levels. An intelligent and emotional script, beautifully acted.”
“A gem! As a lifetime music lover who studied Beethoven’s late quartets in college, this film captured my heart. The back-story lent humanity to this highly disciplined art form that is musically, but not humanly exposed. The actors did a good job of being convincing as musicians.”
“Such a wonderful script, full of intelligence and depth.”
“Love letter to Chamber Music and NYC. Interesting and different. Intricate relationships.”
“It is a Rembrandt!”
“I am a musician so I especially enjoyed and appreciated this movie. Hopefully it will increase interest and understanding of this kind of music! Bravo.”
“NY as spectacular as ever. Walken especially masterful.”
“Christopher Walken was wonderful. He says more without saying anything.”
“A supremely moving and intelligent film about life, chamber music and NYC. I would see any other film that this writer/director makes.”
“This very passionate film was delightful, but at the same time a reminder that everyone has the problems and crosses to bare!”
“Found film to be boring and contrived plot and subplots. Too much travelogue. Beautiful, but long. Interesting Q & A.”
“Splendid story and acting. Also NYC setting was a winner.”
“One of the best films of anytime. Thank you!"
“Wonder of music. Acting and writing all lead to this most enjoyable film.”
“Beautiful story and music.”
“Did we need so many subplots?”
“This film is what a great art should be! An emotional, soulful transcendent experience.”
“A powerful story of a musician’s illness and its effect on the relationships on other quartet members. Emotions come together for a final stellar performance. Great NYC scenery and good casting.”
“A moving, emotional well-made film.”
“One of the best films at MEA. Unexpected surprise. Great to see Walken finally acting again. Thank you for screening this.”
“Beautifully written, acted and edited. So realistic. Wonderful story focusing on all aspects of many relationships as well as Parkinson’s Disease. Thanks for
this film.”
"Loved it!"
“This movie captured the fragile aspect of getting older.”
"Heartwarming!
“Loved it! Brilliant! Complex! The complexities of the relationships move in and out mirroring the way the music moves. An intimate look into the lives of musicians. The writer/director did a fabulous job unfolding the story.
Great casting! Each one acted with their eyes, facial movements, restrained underlying explosiveness and emotionality. What is your next movie? I’m waiting to run out and see it. I’m recommending this film most strongly.”
“This was a poignant movie about the dynamics of a string quartet. The story fleshes out in a drama the characteristics and complexities of the musical personalities that make the music possible. To me the biggest problem in the daughter who should have been slapped long ago. The movie is not
about her, but she fills an indispensable function of drawing out the emotions of the main characters.”
“Once more from the top…a most glorious, moving, tender and wondrous musical and life story. Heartfelt and sensitive. A cast, story and sound for Oscar Worthy contender. Bravo!”
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
“Lovely use of film within film to add exposition and flesh out character stories.”
“What a magnificent approach to music and Parkinson’s. I felt as if I were inside the tapestry of the quartet, the interior parts of each participant like a family, dysfunctional at times, but driven to connect to one another through the music. A truly layered film. Amazing and perfect casting including Imogen Poots as the young musician. The scene of Walken confronting his Parkinson’s in the exercise class and his teaching moments were so enlightening.”
“Brilliant performance by Christopher Walken. Who knew he could play the cello!”
“A beautifully modulated film. Thoughtful, passionate and wonderfully constructed. Also shot with a true feel for New York and for the culture of classical music.”
“A great premise – we all must live “in harmony” with each other, despite a few sour notes. But the soap opera elements were over the top, the fight scene ineptly staged, and Alex’s breakup all too hasty. But the show must go on…”
“A truly beautiful film in all ways.”
“I loved everything about this except for the relationship between Alex and Daniel. Actors all great. Music superb. Amazing how the actors fingering and bowing looked like they were really playing like real professionals.”
“In the process of losing four friends to Parkinson’s. Also started out as a physics major. An avid chamber music freak, attending frequent concerts every week of the aforementioned quartets therefore THANK YOU!”
“Great musical and cinematic production. Loved it!”
“Very credible portrayal of dynamics within any small group of friends.”
“The confluence of emotion and music rendered visual. Absolutely marvelous!”
“I appreciate the ambition of this film, but it didn’t work for me despite the great amount of information it had about what a string quartet and levels of music a performer strives for. Problem with the plot and screenplay that it felt engineered to fit an esoteric informational agenda. I learned from the film but didn’t relate to any character.”
“Wonderful film and excellent subject.”
“A music lover’s film. Christopher Walken’s performance is outstanding. Recalls dynamics of quartet members personal relationships.”
“Having Parkinson’s, I’ve watched this movie inside and out. Pamela Quinn is my PD movement class instructor. She had PD for 19 years! And she teaches (and lives) with music 100% of the time. Dr. Oliver Sachs believes music can build new synapses to improve our lives. Along with Pam, I’m living proof (9 years diagnosed). The music was so beautiful; it allowed me to lose my awareness for 1 1/2 hours. The actors were the roles they played. Thank you for making Parkinson’s the 5th star.”
“Wonderful screenplay and acting. Walken was transcendent. Such an intelligent film.”
