The Movie Quartet, Starring Maggie Smith

Quartet is an ensemble of formidable, veteran actors under the direction of Acad. Award winning actor, 1st time dir. Dustin Hoffman.  The star studded septuagenarian ensemble includes Bill Connolly, Michael Gambon, Pauline Collins and the Grande Dame, Maggie Smith.   The movie is set in a lovely English estate, Beckum.  Beckum is now a retirement home for musicians & singers well past their heydey.  Sadly, the establishment too has fallen on leaner times.  Despite drastric reductions, it's expected to be relinquished in 6 months.  Nevertheless, Maggie Smith, a prominent & respected opera singer, just enters the home to much fanfare from almost all the residents except for two:  her arch rival & her ex-husband.  To the more pressing matter, what to do to save Beckum from going under?  I know, let's all put on a show!  But alas, if only Smith, who was part of the highly acclaimed quartet can be convinced to reunite with her ex for the benefit.  This unflappable melodrama is packed so full of charm, I felt mired in marmalade.  I also tired of the other 1/2 of the quartet; her senility & his virility.  The best scene in the movie was the class Gambon taught to h.s. students where he swapped his knowledge & mutual admiration with a young rapper.  "Opera is simply the out pouring of all our emotions in singing."  The student demonstrated his poetic rap & told Gambon "there is little  difference except we talk not sing our feelings."  Hoffman's film oozed with so much glee I clambered for a rest.  I wouldn't tell Mozart he used too many notes.  But, I would direct Hoffman to hold back on the cloying emotions, at least a quarter of the time.