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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
At the moment, we're having to watch the DVD on our laptop: still no PAL version, though it's continually promised... like yesterday!
Ed Harris is absolutely magnificent as LvB. The balance between the inner man (who continually "talks to God") and the everyday man (who can't cope with anything in the mundane, day-to-day world) is as near perfect as anyone is going to get. I've been a devotee of LvB for most of my 62 years; watching this film is like seeing a video of an old friend: the interpretation really IS that good.
I know it's factually inaccurate... but that doesn't seem to matter much. The FEEL of the thing is right. This is how the man was: genius, chamber pots, and all. And the part of the film that deals with the 9th's first performance (with a splendid rendering of the finale!) was enough to reduce me (literally) to tears. If you love LvB's music, watch this film: I promise you you won't be disappointed.
Ed Harris is absolutely magnificent as LvB. The balance between the inner man (who continually "talks to God") and the everyday man (who can't cope with anything in the mundane, day-to-day world) is as near perfect as anyone is going to get. I've been a devotee of LvB for most of my 62 years; watching this film is like seeing a video of an old friend: the interpretation really IS that good.
I know it's factually inaccurate... but that doesn't seem to matter much. The FEEL of the thing is right. This is how the man was: genius, chamber pots, and all. And the part of the film that deals with the 9th's first performance (with a splendid rendering of the finale!) was enough to reduce me (literally) to tears. If you love LvB's music, watch this film: I promise you you won't be disappointed.
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was intrigued by the title of this film. Copying Beethoven? Copying him how? I'm sure many have tried to copy his work, imitate his genius but as he himself said, "There can and will be thousands of princes, but there is only one Beethoven!" However it soon becomes clear in the film that 'copying' refers to a copyist, a scribe who copies out his musical scores for use of the maembers of the orchestra. Well every composer of the time used those. The copyist here though is a young woman, Anna who wishes to become a composer herself. Very unusual, and knowing Beethoven's character it is extremely unlikely he would have consented to work with a female copyist! Not only that, she presumes to 'correct' the great composer's work!!
You really have to suspend belief in order to make it through the whole of this fantasy LOOSELY based on the last year of Beethoven's life when he composed and premiered the glorious 9th Symphony. There are some scenes which are frankly cringe-making, such as the one wher he supposedly makes fun of a piece of music that Anna has written by pretending to break wind in time to it. Beethoven had a deep respect for women and would never have done such a thing. The other awful moment is when he asks Anna which of his Piano Sonatas is her favourite and when she hesitates announces, "Oh I know, the moonlight!" and bares his behind to her. Just terrible! For one thing Beethoven did not give Piano Sonata no 14 that title, it acquired that after his death, he himself called it 'Sonata in the manner of a Fantasia' and although he was certainly no saint and known to be rude and sometimes outrageously so, never would he have demeaned himself and insulted a female so.
So is there anything to redeem this film? Yes. There are some nice scenes, some funny scenes, some poignant ones, and the depiction of the premiere of the 9th Symphony is very well done even with the innaccuracies. (Beethoven is shown as conducting with Anna's help which he did not in fact do. By that time he was profoundly deaf and it would have been impossible.) However nothing can take away from the sheer beauty and power of the music, and there is a nice long excerpt.
To sum up, if you are a Beethoven fan, you will either hate it because of the innacuracies, or you will be prepared to put up with those to watch a film about the Maestro which gets some things right. If you're not particularly into Beethoven you will probably enjoy the story. Ed Harris's performance is very good.
You really have to suspend belief in order to make it through the whole of this fantasy LOOSELY based on the last year of Beethoven's life when he composed and premiered the glorious 9th Symphony. There are some scenes which are frankly cringe-making, such as the one wher he supposedly makes fun of a piece of music that Anna has written by pretending to break wind in time to it. Beethoven had a deep respect for women and would never have done such a thing. The other awful moment is when he asks Anna which of his Piano Sonatas is her favourite and when she hesitates announces, "Oh I know, the moonlight!" and bares his behind to her. Just terrible! For one thing Beethoven did not give Piano Sonata no 14 that title, it acquired that after his death, he himself called it 'Sonata in the manner of a Fantasia' and although he was certainly no saint and known to be rude and sometimes outrageously so, never would he have demeaned himself and insulted a female so.
So is there anything to redeem this film? Yes. There are some nice scenes, some funny scenes, some poignant ones, and the depiction of the premiere of the 9th Symphony is very well done even with the innaccuracies. (Beethoven is shown as conducting with Anna's help which he did not in fact do. By that time he was profoundly deaf and it would have been impossible.) However nothing can take away from the sheer beauty and power of the music, and there is a nice long excerpt.
To sum up, if you are a Beethoven fan, you will either hate it because of the innacuracies, or you will be prepared to put up with those to watch a film about the Maestro which gets some things right. If you're not particularly into Beethoven you will probably enjoy the story. Ed Harris's performance is very good.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Beethoven did use copyists but they were men - however the spirit of the times demands a heightened dramatice sense and so the character of Anna Holtz really becomes an externalised internal dialogue of the great master himself with his muse.
The film does not shy away depicting Beethoven's well documented style of life and composing; down to copying the sketches that exist from his work room into cinematic reality and the fact that he used to flood his apartment with water when washing - much to the distress of his neighbours below. Beethoven initially conducting the 9th was a fiasco, as protrayed, but the work did succeed get the rapturous applause it fully deserved to stand as the milestone for our contemporary music.
Beethoven was the superstar of Vienna; simultaneously changing the way of music for the world. It is said that up to 30,000 people attended his funeral.
Just as Beethoven's music stretches one's imagination, so does this cleverly composed film... Ed Harris is excellent as Beethoven in spirit and expression and Diane Kruger sparkles equally as the invented character.
I have given this 5 stars for imagination.
The film does not shy away depicting Beethoven's well documented style of life and composing; down to copying the sketches that exist from his work room into cinematic reality and the fact that he used to flood his apartment with water when washing - much to the distress of his neighbours below. Beethoven initially conducting the 9th was a fiasco, as protrayed, but the work did succeed get the rapturous applause it fully deserved to stand as the milestone for our contemporary music.
Beethoven was the superstar of Vienna; simultaneously changing the way of music for the world. It is said that up to 30,000 people attended his funeral.
Just as Beethoven's music stretches one's imagination, so does this cleverly composed film... Ed Harris is excellent as Beethoven in spirit and expression and Diane Kruger sparkles equally as the invented character.
I have given this 5 stars for imagination.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Copying Beethoven
I did like the film very much for one reason: Beethovens words! But I did not like this story with the girl. Why a girl? Read more
Published 5 months ago by Lilo Hunziker
Artistic license liberally applied
If you are a keen fan of Beethoven, musically and as a historical figure, then you might find this movie grates on you because of the quite extensive use of artistic license in... Read more
Published 6 months ago by maximus
Give this film a go...
I am always a little nervous when setting out to watch biographical films about great composers but 'Copying Beethoven' was actually a pleasant surprise. Read more
Published 7 months ago by JohnBoy
True admirers of Beethoven will enjoy this
This film transported me into the very mind of old Ludwig van Beethoven. A crude man in many ways yet undoubtedly a noble soul. The character of Anna was well judged. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. M. J. Reynolds
poor Beethoven
one of thee worst movies I have ever had the misfortune to view , totally unimaginative story.where the acting just as bad as the story ..
Published 8 months ago by Robin B
Copying Beethoven - not well and with licence!
This is an unlikely story with some highly suspect and quite impossible but, having written that, it is also enjoyable and captures the flavour of the time. Read more
Published 9 months ago by RR Waller
Horribly American, saved by the music
As said, wonderful music destroyed by hideous screenplay together with the standard transatlantic insensitivity to things European (cultural, intellectual?). Read more
Published 14 months ago by Dr. Robert J. George
Copying Beethoven
Copying Beethoven [2006] [Region 2 PAL] [Import]
I've waited 2 years to get the European version of this film. Read more
I've waited 2 years to get the European version of this film. Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2009 by Mr. D. A. Newman
Copying Beethoven
Although not all the characters are real, a truly touching and revealing story.
Beautifully acted.
Beautifully acted.
Published on 4 Jun 2009 by Djahanbani Khosrow
Too Plastic...Could have been good.
On the bad side it is just too plastic and 'American'. The coloured contact lenses, perfect American film 'natural' make up and peachy skin plus the carefully arranged toussled... Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2008 by Khaartoum
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