I heart Dustin Hoffman.
The Graduate, Kramer vs Kramer, Tootsie, Rain Man, Moonlight Mile, Runaway Jury — winners all.
Then came the last 10 years. Two painful Fockers movies. I Heart Huckabees (which I did not). Much cartoon voiceover work. I began to despair.
But now Dustin Hoffman the director has stepped forward with his first feature, Quartet.

You can see by the photo that Hoffman wrangled some major names — Scottish actor/comedian Billy Connolly, and the Dowager Countess herself, Maggie Smith. Tom Courtenay and Pauline Collins complete the ‘quartet’ of retired opera singers living at Beecham House, a retirement home in rural England for retired musicians.
(And can I just say — swanky. We should all be so lucky.)
The movie begins as pretty much everyone at the home is in rehearsals for their annual fundraising concert. Connolly, Courtenay and Collins all want Smith — a recent addition to Beecham — to recreate their famed quartet at the concert.
She says no…to pretty much everything. And the movie goes ‘behind the music’ to the pasts and passions of the players.
I loved the performances, especially Tom Courtenay as Smith’s jilted former husband. And Hoffman filled the ‘home’ with retired world-class singers and musicians.
Just wait till you hear how much music they’ve still got!
Middle moodiness
“Middle Sunday”
I’ve been watching TV coverage of The Championships: Wimbledon for as long as I can remember, and this is the first time I’ve heard this term used to describe today’s pause in play.
I hate Middle Sunday.
After a full week of great tennis, I’m totally spoiled. In fact, I’m having Wimbledon withdrawal. It almost makes me wish it had rained a bit more this week, because in the past, they have had to play tennis on Middle Sunday to make up matches.
Of course, they don’t call it Middle Sunday then. No, the day has to have a new name —
“People’s Sunday”
Yeah…I would like that way better.
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Tagged commentary, England, entertainment, Middle Sunday, People's Sunday, rain, Sports, Television, tennis, tennis match, tennis tournament, TV, Wimbledon