A Late Quartet

2012

1 hr 45 min

English

Drama, Classical Music

5 Stars

The Fugue, a string quartet of 3 men and 1 woman, has been together for 25 years. They play well together; two are married to each other with a college-aged daughter. Christopher Walken is wonderful as the cellist who, for health reasons wants to leave the quartet. Philip Seymour Hoffman is tired of playing second violin and wants to play first violin, his wife thinks he should leave well enough alone. Drama ensues as they all face their own midlife crises, and have to decide if the sum of the parts is greater than their individual selves. Are they professional musicians in a quartet, or soloists? Note, this is not related to the movie Quartet, in any way, other than both play marvelous classical music. A beautiful movie, well worth your time.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX66lRnNmqs

Quartet

2012

1 hr 39 min

English

Romantic Comedy for the Silver Haired 

5 Stars

What a fun movie! The acting was superb, the direction spot-on. Like many British movies, I had to turn the volume up to hear (what is it with their sound systems?), but it was oh-so-worth it! The story takes place in a home for retired musicians, and I understand many of the actors are retired musicians, which just adds another depth of delightedness. Pauline Collins (Shirley Valentine) is wonderful as are the rest of the cast. There is a love story in the background (yes, Victoria, old farts and fartesses still love), as the home is trying to set up a concert for the locals to earn enough money to keep the home going, and not have to charge residents. And the sound track is to die for. This is a movie to own and to watch more than once.

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2051843097

Salt of the Earth

2014

1 hr 50 min

English & subtitles

Documentary

5 Stars

A documentary about Sebastiao Salgado, a Brazilian photographer. It gives us his live, and his work. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will leave you filled with hope by the end. You have seen his work, but probably didn't realize it was his. He has done work for the UN and Doctors Without Borders. He reminds me of a modern day Edward S. Curtis. He has 'saved' many of the indigenous peoples of South America with his cameras. There were areas where it was a little long, but hang in there. It's a beautiful documentary and well worth the time investment.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgd3ZDtx8lg