A Late Quartet

A Late Quartet has been on my radar since it came out in the fall of 2012.  With a cast that includes Christopher Walken, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener, count me in.  Mark Ivanir, who was a new face for me, rounds out the foursome with a strong performance as the lead violinist.  His place as the first violin pretty much makes him the leader of the quartet, much to the chagrin of the second violinist, played by Hoffman.  Keener's character, who plays the viola, has been married to Hoffman for about as long as the quartet has been together - 25 years - and they have a daughter around that same age, who is being taught the violin by Ivanir.  Walken, the cellist, finds out pretty early on in the story that he is exhibiting early signs of Parkinson's disease, which will bring his legendary music career to an end in the next year.  This announcement provides the spark for the movie's drama.  Since they are going to have to replace Walken with a new cellist, Hoffman proposes that it would be a good time to begin splitting time with Ivanir as the lead violinist, which even his own wife thinks is a bad idea. The lack of spousal support causes Hoffman to cheat on his wife.  She finds out about the infidelity and asks him to move out.  As if this weren't enough drama for one movie, we find out that Ivanir and his pupil are having a love affair.  The fact that his own daughter is in love with the first violinist enrages Hoffman and further fractures the already embattled quartet.

This probably sounds like a lot to cram into one movie, and it sure felt like it.  Especially in the middle of the film, where everything was piling on top of itself, causing it to come across with great (unintended) humor.

I loved the final scene and ultimately came away from this film with a positive opinion, even though it was a bit over the top.  I truly got the sense that these interpersonal issues carried serious enough consequences to support my investment in the story.  To these people, music is everything.

A Late Quartet is currently streaming on Netflix.