Quartet 2012

Critics score:
79 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Mary F. Pols, TIME Magazine: Terribly cloying and cutesy. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Hoffman, in his directorial debut, has crafted a hopeful movie with a warm atmosphere, but one that's realistic, too. Read more

Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies: As for Hoffman's direction, the aforementioned montage notwithstanding, it's unobtrusive but not invisible ... and the ending is pretty much perfect. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: A sincere but sloppy piece of work. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: The result is a movie of enormous intelligence. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: Mr. Hoffman's direction is impeccable, John de Borman's camera bathes the story in warm radiance, and the end credits are not to be missed, since they reveal who's really who in the supporting cast. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: Hoffman directs with elegance, allowing the denizens to be dignified, as well as adorable. We get a strong sense of each major character. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: Stay for the credits; they're a lovely, poignant reminder of the passage of time, and of lives spent immersed in art and music. Read more

Peter Debruge, Variety: The film's scant plot plays second fiddle to Hoffman and Harwood's nuanced exploration of love so long unrequited. Read more

Scott Tobias, AV Club: A genial bore, full of underplayed drama and mildly frisky comedy. Read more

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut is simply an old-fashioned charmer, relying on the considerable talents and charms of its seasoned British cast to win you over. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: "Quartet" is about what happens when a performing artist's physical gifts start to fail with the years; whether acceptance or resistance is the wisest response; where to put one's pride. The movie just couches these issues in a cozy love story. Read more

Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader: The premise may sound insufferable, but this light comedy about a nursing home for retired classical musicians isn't half-bad. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: The material settles for amiably familiar observations about the difficulties of growing old and the glories of being surrounded by beautiful music. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: The characters in Quartet may be on their way out, but they aren't giving up without a fight. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: 'Quartet" is a lovely little charm bracelet of a film, a fairy tale for the geriatric set blessed with a wonderful cast and a carry-on attitude. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: Quartet knows just the tune to soothe its mature target audience ... Read more

Jordan Hoffman, Film.com: "Quartet" is polite enough to be short, I'll give it that much. Read more

Deborah Young, Hollywood Reporter: Dustin Hoffman's directing debut about retired musicians in the third act of their lives has a winning, classy charm for older audiences. Read more

Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: "Quartet" is very much a performance piece, which plays to Hoffman's strength - as an actor he knows when to allow this excellent ensemble breathing room and when to tighten the belt. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: In his first attempt at directing since Straight Time, Hoffman makes this bauble shine by buffing out some of its sentimentality. Read more

Stanley Kauffmann, The New Republic: The first thing to note is that Hoffman has apparently had a grand time working with these professionals, all of whom as residents of the home are splendid. Read more

Rafer Guzman, Newsday: Always cute and breezy, "Quartet" often forgets that its protagonists are in a sobering stage of life, and that there's comedy to be found there as well. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: A mild but perfectly pleasant entertainment from playwright Ronald Harwood and Dustin Hoffman, staying offscreen here to make his directing debut. Read more

Ella Taylor, NPR: A big-hearted and veddy English chamber piece, never mind that it was directed - respectfully and with love - by famous Yank Dustin Hoffman. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Everyone onscreen is experienced enough to realize that we create our own fates, regardless of the directions in which we are pushed. Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: 'Quartet" isn't a penetrating inquiry into aging. Who wants that? We all know the facts, so let's not begrudge some fancy. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: Quartet shows us how art illuminates our lives, and shows us artists and performers who can still, after all these years, do some illuminating. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The straightforward screenplay is elevated considerably by a series of sterling performances. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: It has a good heart. I'll give it that. Maybe what it needs is more exotic marigolds. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: Hoffman uses all he's learned as a virtuoso actor to shape a film of flesh-and-blood characters, flushed with humor and tenderness. Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: This is a lovely film directed with delicacy and taste, profoundly alive to the rhythms of its actors and characters, which gives its superlative British cast of stage and screen legends the time and space they deserve. Read more

Kristin Tillotson, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Whatever his imprint on the film might be, it's overshadowed by the performances of its stellar, veteran cast, to whom Hoffman wisely gives ample rein. Read more

Sarah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Hoffman trusts his actors, and directs this thoughtful comedy with a sure hand. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: Masterpiece Theatre comfort food, a chance to watch fine actors act without too many complications. Read more

Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: Quartet is a bit shameless in its approach, but for those who enjoy a whimsical drama that includes scenery chewing from grand dames and hammy fellows, it's a welcome if often predictable treat. Read more

Dave Calhoun, Time Out: A host of supporting actors played by singers and musicians grounds its more farcical and rarefied elements in white-haired reality. Read more

Keith Uhlich, Time Out: Like many actors-turned-filmmakers, first-time director Dustin Hoffman (yes, that Dustin Hoffman) indulges his performers above all else ... Read more

Melissa Anderson, Village Voice: Sentimental and pandering ... Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: "Quartet" is one of those movies that looks so effortless, it's easy to forget just how much could have gone wrong. Read more