A Late Quartet
Rated: R
Genre: Drama
Street Date: February 5, 2013
Available On: DVD and Blu-ray
The Film: For 25 years the classical quartet of Peter (Christopher Walken), Robert (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Juliette (Catherine Keener) and Daniel (Mark Ivanir) have enthralled audiences and critics around the world. While preparing for their next tour the group is shocked to learn that Peter will no longer be able to perform with the group. This disruption to the norm causes envy, lust and ego to collide with life-changing effects.
The Extras: Making-Of Featurette “Discord and Harmony”
Recommendation: The cast is impeccable, particularly Walken who gives one of his finer (and most normal) performances in recent memory. The script is a little convoluted and some of the characters’ actions seem to exist only because the plot demands that they happen. Daniel’s affair feels a bit forced and distracts from the main thrust of the story and the spat between Robert and Juliette seems a bit too melodramatic and cliché. Essentially I wanted more of Walken’s character and less of everyone else. “A Late Quartet” is flawed, but still manages to entertain on the strength of the performances.

-Ryan Michael Painter
(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcast Group)