This 2012 film, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, and the lesser known Mark Ivanir was worth the search for it on the shelf at the video store.
I spent almost the entire film trying to suspend my disbelief that Hoffman is actually gone. His was such a distinct, profound talent. With that said, in this movie his perfection was well-matched, especially by Walken. I swear, that man can say more with his face in two minutes of silence than was said with all the words in the entire script. Catherine Keener was her irrepressible self. It is a true joy to watch her work.
Mark Ivanir, best known for his role in "Schlindler's List", was believable as an obsessive musician with with little room for the passion of actual relationships. Imogen Poots, as the daughter of Hoffman and Keener, was just irritating and awful, but she doesn't take much screen time.
The soundtrack is wonderful, and the depiction of the devotion its takes to make a living as a professional musician is almost as painful as it is beautiful to watch.
The dedication the four main actors had to have to make themselves believable as world-class musicians was truly impressive. All of this work brought home the fact that we all make sacrifices to dedicate ourselves to doing what we love.
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