Some of America's finest actors give their all in this movie we call 'Performance'.
A film by Yaron Zilberman
featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener and Mark Ivanir
A Late Quartet is visually and musically rich. But above all there are
the performances, individually and as an ensemble, and they're pitch
perfect.
Philip French UK Observer
Film Synopsis
Christopher Walken plays an elderly
cellist who’s aware he’s suffering from Parkinson’s disease. When he
tells the other members, they react in different ways.
The first violinist (brilliantly
played by the least-known actor, Mark Ivanir) is a dry perfectionist,
whose emotions are channelled into classical music. With cold
practicality, he simply sets about finding a replacement.
The second violinist (an on-form
Philip Seymour Hoffman) is more passionate — and more insecure and
egotistical. He demands to alternate as first violinist.
His wife (the ever-reliable Catherine
Keener) realises this would be a mistake, and wonders if they should
disband the quartet — especially when she finds out her husband has had a
one-night stand with a gorgeous young flamenco dancer he met while out
jogging.
To undermine the group further, the
couple’s highly musical daughter (played by the beautiful,
soon-to-be-a-star Imogen Poots) develops a crush on the first violinist.
Needless to say, her parents are unimpressed when he succumbs to her
attractions.
The Music
"An obvious glory of the film is its
music. Beethoven’s No.14, Op.131 is one of his most profound late
quartets, and its colours illuminate the drama that develops, right up
to the climactic concert.
The film does two things
miraculously well. First, it takes us behind the scenes and convincingly
shows us how a musical ensemble works — or fails to work. Anyone who
has performed music with other people — even in a rock group — will
recognise themselves in these characters. Secondly, A Late Quartet
cleverly dramatises its central message, which is that some combinations
of people are much greater than they could ever be on their own or in
another group." A Late Quartet: Marvellous maestros By
Chris Tookey UK Daily Mail
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