Late Quarter

A Late Quartet

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226240/?ref_=sr_1

Directed by: Yaron Zilberman

Starring: Christopher Walken, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Imogen Poots

RATING: A-

A Late Quartet uses classical music as a backdrop, and to set the tone, for a familiar indie drama where a group of people manage to make a mess of every aspect of their personal life. The Fugue Quartet has been playing together for 25 years, and now the elder statesmen (Walken) is stepping down due to the onset of Parkinsons. This is the domino that tips, that unravels all of their lives. It's a quiet, classy drama about powerful music and emotions. One subplot too many (mainly a love story) isn't enough to undercut fine performances from everyone.
Hoffman is the underappreciated second chair violinist, who's spent an entire career being the least celebrated member of the quartet, and is married to the viola player, the distant Keener. Mark Ivanir is the anal and obsessive first chair violinist, who has shaped and molded the group to his vision, and more accurately his ear. Hoffman wants to play first chair on occasion, and his wife doesn't support his bid. This throws their marriage into a tailspin, Walken is retiring and his guidance is missed, and Ivanir falls in love with someone he shouldn't. As the personal lives become a mess, the actors get a chance to shine.
Hoffman finds his character coming out of a daze and embracing life and passion in ways he let go of in the safety of marriage and success. And Walken makes good use of some of the most moving writing in the show, using extended metaphors to draw parallels between life and music, between individual playing and being part of a group, sharing the experience. Walken is making interesting choices over the last year or so, taking on dramatic parts and showing the type of actor he can be, instead of playing to the caricature he's created.
The strengths are in the understated acting, which makes the few times the writing gets a little too melodramatic, one scene between Poots and Keener goes a little too far, not helped by Poots also going a little big (but otherwise holding her own), more bearable. It's about masters of a profession working on one of the hardest pieces of music out there, and the similarity to watching three of the most talented actors work on their craft is not lost. It's a pleasure to sit back and watch the characters they've created really come alive in their interactions. The end is incredibly subtle, and quietly resolves issues, circumventing the usual have-it-out for these convoluted life movies. The movie is unexpected and masterful, and is a showcase for these actors to really shine. Bravo.