Christopher Walken, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Mark Ivanir, and Imogen Poots experience "A Late Quartet" and its ramifications in this 2012 film.
Walken plays Peter Mitchell, a musician involved in an ensemble called the Fugue Quartet. The quartet has played together for 25 years and consists of Robert & Juliette Gelbart (Hoffman and Keener), and Daniel Lerner (Ivanir). Imogen Poots plays Alexandra Gelbart, Robert and Juliette's daughter.
Mitchell is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and, realizing he won't be able to play much longer, informs the group and seeks out a replacement.
The news causes all kinds of disruption. Robert, the second violinist, decides that he no longer wants to play second violin; he wants to move up to first chair. When Catherine tells him that she's discussed this with Daniel, and he is better as second violinist, he feels betrayed and acts out.
Robert confronts Daniel and criticizes his work, telling him that he has no passion. Daniel then acts out in a way that has an effect on the Gelbarts.
Nothing much happens in this movie, but I was crying at the end.
Frankly there wasn't enough plot to keep this thing going for 105 minutes -- 45 would have been fine. It would have been a nice short film.
That being said, there were some very powerful scenes. One of the best was the confrontation between Catherine and Alexandra, who vilifies her mother for having her and then traveling eight months of the year. A bad mother-daughter fight that will resonate with a lot of people.
The scene at Peter's house during rehearsal, when Daniel is confronted by Robert and Juliette.
The final scene was very touching.
Christopher Walken gives a beautiful performance of a man who has to face the hardest thing a professional can face -- the loss of ability. There comes a time when an athlete, a dancer, a singer says, my time is up. And it's sad because a musician should be able to keep playing! I thought Walken captured his character beautifully.
Hoffman's role was not as good, but he was excellent as usual. What a crying shame that he is gone.
Catherine Keener and Imogen Poots were both solid -- again, for me, these were not great roles. Both were honest and real in their emotions in what they had to do.
Mark Ivanir gave a more subtle performance -- his character is cerebral, uptight, and not exceptionally verbal. He's perfect.
If you're a musician, you possibly will get more out of this than others -- hard to say. I think there are some universal emotions expressed in this film. It's just not electrifying. Not everything needs to be.
