Quartet (2013) - 8 stars out of 10

Quartet (2013) - 8 stars out of 10

"Quartet" is a simple story with great acting and a fantastic musical selection.  Based on a real-life place, the story takes place in a nursing home for retired musicians.  This movie will be funny to the average viewer but hilarious to a musician as many of the stereotypes of the music industry are exaggerated, particularly the egos of the opera singers.  The casting is very smart, filling the screen with actual retired musicians who are heard performing throughout the film.  It is so easy for movies featuring old people to be boring, but "Quartet" takes its cues from "Grumpy Old Men" by delivering the sassy, argumentative old geezers that we love to watch.  Maggie Smith shows that she can still command the screen at age 78.  She slowly reveals her stubbornness to be sadness and regret, while Tom Courtenay and Billy Connolly add support.  Pauline Collins is great as Cecily, portraying senility in a way that creates drama and comic relief at the same time.  Add Michael Gambon as the uptight show producer and it becomes difficult to look away from the screen.  "Quartet" is a quick quality comedy that pokes fun at the music industry until we have to acknowledge its accuracy.