A LATE QUARTET

a terrifically acted film about a string quartet that has been playing together for 25 years and what happens when the senior member (Peter, played by a mild and gentle and lovable Christopher Walken) develops Parkinson's disease. The other members are Robert (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who is 2nd violin but believes he can play first chair and is filled with suppressed jealousy and discontent. Daniel (Mark Ivanir) is first violin and he is a rigid and dictatorial personality and musician. Juliette (Catherine Keener) is Robert's wife. they are the parents of a budding violinist who is starting to keenly feel the effects of being brought up by a mom and dad who traveled constantly and whose music came before her needs as a child.

There was a lot of string quartet music and I also learned quite a bit about how a group like this learns to play together. And it was a constantly entertaining story to see how Peter's imminent departure from the quartet affected every other member in ALL areas of their lives; not just the touring and performing part.

Bill gave it a 7.5 and i gave it an 8. And the ending was good; it didn't dissolve into cotton candy bliss with all problems solved. oh, and i don't even like symphony type music and i still really enjoyed this film.