Quartet

First Hit:  An overall entertaining film and at times truly enjoyable, but at times, it also suffered from being slow and without focus.

The setting is a home for retired English musicians of all types. Although the grounds of this home are immaculate as well as the home, the storyline has you believe that they are next to closing if they don’t get more money.

Despite that this storyline isn’t believable; it does provide a reason for these retired musicians to put a show to collect money. As they meet and practice, the film audience gets an opportunity to glimpse what their life is like as they age. The clarinet player suffers from heart problems but his love for playing music is all he wants to do. Voices of these aging opera singers don’t quite have the tonal quality nor do they hit the high notes like they use to but their love for the music and memories of how they use to be are ever present.

The story is mainly about Jean Horton (Maggie Smith) coming to live in the house. Her former husband Reginald Paget (Tom Courtenay) lives there and is upset that he wasn’t consulted about her coming to live there.

There is a strong story line about their history. Reginald’s friends Wilf (Billy Connolly) and Cissy (Pauline Collins) come up with an idea to have the four of them, including Jean, to sing as a quartet, like they did years earlier.

Resolving their differences is what brings the drama and the comedy is about how they see each other, act towards each other and how they see themselves.

Smith is resurrecting a roll she had in “Marigold Hotel”, grumpy and somewhat mean at the beginning then comes out of her shell. Overall it was OK. Courtenay was good as the former jilted husband of Smith. His most touching sequence was when he as teaching young kids about Opera. Connolly was the funniest of the actors and his shtick was to be a romancer or a wanna be romancer. Collins was very enjoyable as the memory challenged woman with a big heart. Michael Gambon as Cedric Livingston was a lot of fun as the directorial arrogant ringleader of the show. Ronald Hardwood wrote the screenplay and although uneven, overall it was good. Dustin Hoffman directed this and generally it was OK.

Overall:  This was an fun film to watch although a bit uneven.

Barney's Version

First Hit: Although the main character is not very likable, the story and acting is very strong and worthy of attention.

Paul Giamatti plays Barney Panofsky a drunk, curmudgeon, and man fighting to be at peace with his life. Barney is a hard drinking, cigar smoking producer who marries women he doesn’t really want to be with.

He is a good friend and does surprisingly supportive things for some of his co-workers. He is also demanding, self-centered, and pushy with what he wants – usually drunk. His father Izzy (played by Dustin Hoffman) understands his son’s behavior although it appears that Barney learned a lot of his behavior from his father.

His second wife (played by Minnie Driver) is demanding and ends up sleeping with his best friend which results in a bizarre set of incidents which lead a police to think Barney kills his best friend. During his second wedding Barney meets Miriam (played by Rosamund Pike) whom he pursues for years and upon his divorce he seeks her out.

They marry and Barney lives in relative peace because he's with his best friend and lover. But Barney’s jealous and stupid past catch up with him and he breaks his promise to Miriam and she leaves him.

Barney lives his later years in pain and as the film moves towards its ending, his dementia appears to be the price and peace for living his life.

Giamatti is perfect as Panofsky, nobody could have done this role better. Driver is good as a loud demanding wife. Pike is endearingly wonderful as Miriam and fully believable as to why Barney wants to marry her. Hoffman is wonderful as Barney’s father. Michael Konyves wrote an incredible script. Richard J. Lewis directed this script and actors with perfection.

Overall: A very well acted and directed film.

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

First Hit: At best, mildly entertaining.

The premise of this film that has Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) handing over his store to his main clerk and manager (Natalie Portman) who is a frustrated composer and is trying to find her way through life.

The film is telegraphed from the beginning and each turn tries your patience. The best parts of this film are the moments when the camera moves through the store without the main characters being the focus.

There are some wonderfully creative and visual moments in this magical store but the story could have been left outside and the film wouldn’t have suffered much. Character wise, Zach Mills, playing Eric Applebaum did a nice job of holding character and his innocence and optimism shines through.

However, I cannot begin to think what Dustin Hoffman was doing talking through his front teeth like a chipmunk. It wasn’t required for the part and I don’t understand why he (or the director) would choose to do this.

Natalie Portman does a good job of acting her character of Molly Mahoney a frustrated composer who is on the receiving end of Mr. Magorium’s gift of the store he has had for 243 years. However, no matter how well she cries on queue or how wonderful she looks with the short hair and open lovely smile, there is nothing in this script that gives it enough chops to bring out her character.

Overall: This is a video only film with the family or for fluff.