A Late Quartet (2012) Yaron Zilberman

A Late Quartet (2012) Yaron Zilberman [1:45]

When you’ve got a cast as talented as this one (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, and Mark Ivanir), you’d better make sure you’ve given them a script that allows their talents to soar. Unfortunately, the script of A Late Quartet does not do this. 

On the eve of the 25th anniversary of a world-renowned string quartet, its cellist (Walken) begins showing signs of Parkinson’s Disease. Wanting to do what’s best for the ensemble, he announces his retirement so that the group can find a replacement. We have the makings of a better-than-average (although somewhat formulaic) drama here. You’ve got classical musicians, you’ve got egos, you’ve got an obstacle to overcome, and you’ve got New York. All is well.

Then the shenanigans ensue. Jealousy, bitterness, lust, betrayal, family issues, musical issues, you name it. Not that these things wouldn’t happen in the real world with real musicians; they would. But after a time, the level of ridiculousness reached in A Late Quartet becomes just too much to ask an audience to accept. 

Well-produced drama is great. I can even handle melodrama when it’s done right. What I can’t handle is waste and wasted opportunities. A Late Quartet sets up an interesting premise with outstanding actors and works reasonably well for about 3/4 of a hour before taking the easy way out, descending into the realm of soap opera. These actors do their best with the material, but you’re asking them to provide depth to what are largely surface characters. The least recognizable name here, Mark Ivanir, provides what is probably the best written character of the bunch. There’s little more disheartening at the movies than seeing great actors trying to overcome weak material. Unfortunately, that’s the case here.

2/5