"A Late Quartet" is a drama centering on four musicians, who have played together successfully as a group for 25 years. The group struggles to stay together when the eldest member cellist Peter (Christopher Walken) announces a health issue that threatens the group. Viola player Juliette (Catherine Keener) finds herself between the other two members: first violinist Daniel (Mark Ivanier) and second violinist/her husband Robert (Philip Seymour Hoffman) when issues of ego and lust disrupt the quartet's harmony.
I found this film to be an in-depth character study of this small group of musicians with more of a "soapy" feel than a focus on music. There's definitely drama among the group members when Walken's character makes an announcement that threatens the future of the group and awakens deep-seated issues arise among the characters. It's interesting to look at the very tender balance that exists within groups, particularly artists, where the individuals give up solo glory for the good of the group. The cast is stacked with power and talent making this a treat to watch. The direction was also very good.
Again, the focus is not on music so much as it is on relationships among the quartet members. Watch this one for the well-developed and well-acted drama not for the music. B+
I thought this movie was very interesting and liked.
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