Quartet

[raj101]

posh boarding school lol. I'd still like to try that for a year. I'd like to think I'd do a Billy Connolly.

[celtiagirl]

I think the point made by Quartet is that they are so wedded to the showbiz life that they hang on in there, tenuously, by staying at this rather plush retirement home for musicians.

I agree Reggie seems pretty sound in wind and limb but the rest of them seem to have sticks, dementia and the aftereffects of a stroke, so I guess these are decent reasons for residential care

[Yinster]

Was in Braehead, Glasgow where it was about 3/4 full. Pretty good considering it is a Friday morning. Most of the patrons looked like the age group from the film.

This is pretty disappointing and I don't think it had anything to do with an age thing. I loved The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. This was nothing compared to it. With the only common factor was Maggie Smith. It just dragged for me. And yes I was very underwhelmed by the ending from the Quartet. 4/10

[elski]

am I the only one that was extremely disappointed (I actually felt cheated) by the lack of the highly anticipated last scene [spoiler]the quartet finally singing together[/spoiler]?

At the Q&A gala screening that question was asked and apparently [spoiler]the actors went through weeks of vocal training for it and I think they even filmed something, but they said the could never achieve something of a good enough standard to be used. Speaking on behalf of Dustin Hoffman, who wasn't there, they thought he either wanted to use their voices or not at all so didn't want to dub it with someone else. Tom Courtenay said he only found out that there singing wasn't used when he saw the final film.[/spoiler]

[JohnnysHat]

I was in two minds whether to go and see this film and I really wish I hadn't bothered. I went with a friend who actually fell asleep during the film. Not enough funny moments to keep it ticking over and really not my cup of tea. I give it 2/10 just for Billy Connoley's character.

[McG]

Saw this Braehead yesterday in the company of Yinster + OH.
I had read a few reviews before seeing the film and therefore went with lowered expectations.
Yes, it was not a Marigold Hotel and in fact not really a comedy although it does seem to be marketed as that.
I have to say that I did enjoy the film. It was gentle and I thought the acting was particularly good by Pauline Collins and Maggie Smith. I loved the character that was assigned to Billy Connelly though I do accept that he did look quite young for the part!

posh boarding school lol. I'd still like to try that for a year. I'd like to think I'd do a Billy Connolly.

I think this analogy by raj101 is very good. It mirrored the view we had of boarding schools when we were young and read The Chalet School books or Mallory Towers books.
Now, if only ALL retirement homes were this "alive" . . . in many ways, this was a hotel for the ageing performers most of whom had no family due to their committment to their arts. They were family to each other.
BTW the house and the grounds looked lovely . . . book me a place!
Marks 8/10

[Beate]

Hey, that's my analogy!

[McG]

Hey, that's my analogy!

Oops! Maybe I should book into Beecham House now!

[LondonCityNights]

That was an absolute load of rubbish. And it doesn't even have a proper ending!

http://londoncitynights.blogspot.co.uk/ ... ffman.html

Seems a bit insulting to elderly filmgoers to assume that what they want is the filmic equivalent of a cup of very very weak tea.

[elski]

there's a free copy of the book with the Telegraph today
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/promotions/9 ... artet.html