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Amazon.co.uk Review
This sumptuous and moving 1994 film written and directed by Bernard Rose (Candyman) investigates the artistic and romantic passions of one of the greatest composers of all time. Featuring a superb performance by Gary Oldman (Sid and Nancy) as Ludwig van Beethoven, Immortal Beloved is full of uncommonly vivid, rich imagery as it charts the tumultuous life of the deaf child prodigy and his rise to the height of musical achievement. Along the way, he attempts to play mentor to his nephew, attend to his many passionate romances--the most stable one was with a countess (Isabella Rossellini)--and fight bouts of depression and madness that ruled his life and his art. The film is framed around a "Rosebud"-type letter found after the composer's death that makes up the crux of the story. Jeroen Krabbé (The Fugitive), playing Beethoven's lifelong friend, attempts to discover who Beethoven's muse really was, becoming as driven as his friend in discovering the unlikely identity of the composer's "immortal beloved." Through this we gain an insight into the nature of obsession, romance, and the heights and sacrifices of artistic achievement. The film exhibits some extraordinary sound design, and the finale features a magical encapsulation of Beethoven's life and loves set to his "Ode to Joy." As an exciting and passionate journey, Immortal Beloved is its own masterpiece. --Robert Lane
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
In my view, this isn't an out & out attempt at a strict biopic, and the casual viewer should be aware that a considerable amount of artistic license has been taken with the storyline.
However, get over the need for absolute historical accuracy; what this movie's really about is providing a hugely enjoyable feast for the senses. Gary Oldman is superb. Whoever decided to cast this seemingly unlikely choice for the lead role deserves an award for inspiration bordering on genius. The metamorphosis Oldman achieves is little short of miraculous, a grand statement to the high art of character acting. It's clear that our man has researched his role with an absolute determination to capture the great composer's persona. Thank you Mr Oldman, for what it's worth you've earned this punter's total respect and I'm sure there'll be literally millions more like me. No doubt some of the more academic types will scoff at my sentiments but I think they are missing the point. This is an extremely beautiful film, hugely enjoyable and will doubtless encourage many encountering Beethoven for the first-time to investigate further, itself a great thing.
The setting & atmosphere for the gradually-decaying early 19th century Hapsburg Empire are finely depicted & evocative, and in particular the use of light - both natural & artificial, shows exceptional skill. This is a work of craftmanship by a team who obviously knew what they were doing and worked hard at getting things right.
To sum up, this isn't history, but make no mistake, as a piece of entertainment it's a classic. . The final evocation of Beethoven's spirit set to the Ode to Joy captures this great genius's monumental legacy... hope, a gift for all mankind.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The title of the film relates to a letter sent by Beethoven to a lady with whom he had fallen in love. But the name of that lady is unknown and this mystery has long fascinated Beethoven scholars. Many have been the names put in the frame. Bernard Rose, who wrote as well as directed this movie, presents his theory. Is it Giuletta Giucciardi, Countess Gallenberg, or Anna-Marie, Countess Erdody, or Johanna Reiss, his sister-in-law?
There is so much that is wrong with this film - for example, its historical inaccuracies; the lack of consistency in accents; and the use of hilly Prague to portray flat Vienna. Watching this film I was often confronted with the crass, the artless, the preposterous, the embarrassing, and the laughable. We have comedy with Barry Humphries as Metternich, Dame Edna Everage struggling to emerge from within his breast. We have naff lines such as Schindler's "It was that damned sonata" on the day that he met Beethoven. And yet, and yet ...
The film is colourful and imaginative, Beethoven's deafness is convincingly conveyed, and the sub-story of the composer's relationship with his nephew is well-told. Perhaps the idea was to replicate the success of "Amadeus" for Beethoven with a high-quality costume-drama. Bernard Rose says that he used the story of seeking Beethoven's "immortal beloved" as an excuse to show the more private and difficult sides of the composer.
Jeroen Krabbe (originally marked down as to play Beethoven) is good as the composer's amanuensis Schindler; equally good is Johanna Ter Steege as the subject of the title. But Gary Oldman is mesmerising as the man himself; his eyes, his hair, his lips, all seem so perfect for the role. Oldman says that he passed on the script twice, but realised it would be a good departure from his usual roles. He tells us that we have to look at the film as a fiction, as Beethoven filtered through the director's vision. Bernard Rose concedes that his film has been attacked by scholars on historical grounds, but he insists that the movie is about the music, being aimed at twelve- and thirteen-year-olds to show that Beethoven's music was not stuffy - is not stuffy - but rather something worth exploring. And indeed, on the way, we hear some of the greatest music ever written, with Georg Solti conducting, the music editing into the film being skilfully done and very commendable.
The extras on this DVD include `talent files' for the main actors and director, a director's commentary, a five-minute featurettes and a thirty-minute documentary called "Beloved Beethoven".
There is so much that is wrong with this film - for example, its historical inaccuracies; the lack of consistency in accents; and the use of hilly Prague to portray flat Vienna. Watching this film I was often confronted with the crass, the artless, the preposterous, the embarrassing, and the laughable. We have comedy with Barry Humphries as Metternich, Dame Edna Everage struggling to emerge from within his breast. We have naff lines such as Schindler's "It was that damned sonata" on the day that he met Beethoven. And yet, and yet ...
The film is colourful and imaginative, Beethoven's deafness is convincingly conveyed, and the sub-story of the composer's relationship with his nephew is well-told. Perhaps the idea was to replicate the success of "Amadeus" for Beethoven with a high-quality costume-drama. Bernard Rose says that he used the story of seeking Beethoven's "immortal beloved" as an excuse to show the more private and difficult sides of the composer.
Jeroen Krabbe (originally marked down as to play Beethoven) is good as the composer's amanuensis Schindler; equally good is Johanna Ter Steege as the subject of the title. But Gary Oldman is mesmerising as the man himself; his eyes, his hair, his lips, all seem so perfect for the role. Oldman says that he passed on the script twice, but realised it would be a good departure from his usual roles. He tells us that we have to look at the film as a fiction, as Beethoven filtered through the director's vision. Bernard Rose concedes that his film has been attacked by scholars on historical grounds, but he insists that the movie is about the music, being aimed at twelve- and thirteen-year-olds to show that Beethoven's music was not stuffy - is not stuffy - but rather something worth exploring. And indeed, on the way, we hear some of the greatest music ever written, with Georg Solti conducting, the music editing into the film being skilfully done and very commendable.
The extras on this DVD include `talent files' for the main actors and director, a director's commentary, a five-minute featurettes and a thirty-minute documentary called "Beloved Beethoven".
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Immortal Beloved [DVD] [1994]
When Beethoven (Gary Oldman) died his friend Anton Schindler Jeroen Krabbe) discovered four letters addressed to the "Immortal Beloved" and as we followed Schindlers efforts to trace the unknown woman (no one has ever discovered for certain who she was) but considered to be one of the four women portrayed in the film.
This is not a biopic but a very successful effort to use selective flashbacks to evoke the rebellious and turbulent nature of this unhappy creative genius, including his obsessive behaviour towards his nephew Karl (Marco Hofscheinder).
The portrayal of the composer confronted with total deafness is searing, particularly the scene where he tries to hear a piano by laying his head on the lid, and later having to be turned around during the first performance of his Choral Symphony to acknowledge the applause.
Am absolute gem.
When Beethoven (Gary Oldman) died his friend Anton Schindler Jeroen Krabbe) discovered four letters addressed to the "Immortal Beloved" and as we followed Schindlers efforts to trace the unknown woman (no one has ever discovered for certain who she was) but considered to be one of the four women portrayed in the film.
This is not a biopic but a very successful effort to use selective flashbacks to evoke the rebellious and turbulent nature of this unhappy creative genius, including his obsessive behaviour towards his nephew Karl (Marco Hofscheinder).
The portrayal of the composer confronted with total deafness is searing, particularly the scene where he tries to hear a piano by laying his head on the lid, and later having to be turned around during the first performance of his Choral Symphony to acknowledge the applause.
Am absolute gem.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Immortal Beloved DVD
First saw this film on release in the USA in the 90's and I was able to also purchase it on video tape some time later. I have watched it many times and have never tired of it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by giant6040
Oldman the real Pianist
Just to add my own comment. Gary Oldman is brilliant in this film which captures the essential drama of Beethoven's life. No need to get hung up on historical details. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. C. MCGRORY
The comedy is over
Gary Oldman gives a truly superb and inspired performance as the troubled composer, LvBeethoven. The film focuses on Beethovens love life, with focus on his character and gradual... Read more
Published 3 months ago by D. J. Mortimer
Gary Oldman as Beethoven
Gary Oldman gives an excellent performance as Beethoven in Immortal Beloved with an excellent supporting cast. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Carole
Immortal beloved Beethoven
If you like the film Amadeus I believe you will like this film as well. I don't find it as good as Amadeus, but it's definitely worth seeing, and Gary Oldman is great.
Published 7 months ago by Nick
Classic
Gary Oldman is outstanding in this film - you don't have to be a fan of him, a fan of classical music, a fan of Beethoven - just watch and be entertained. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Sapper
Oldman's Beethoven - forever young
SAFE READING - NO SPOILERS
This probes into the identity of the lady who, since letters were discovered in a concealed section of his desk after his death in March 1827,... Read more
This probes into the identity of the lady who, since letters were discovered in a concealed section of his desk after his death in March 1827,... Read more
Published 9 months ago by RR Waller
..just simply a great film.
The overall film is just brilliant, although probably not to actual fact, but the preformances from the actors,are outstanding..Gary Oldman is such a intense wonderful actor.. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Barry Foxall
Inspiring
Seen the film a few times now and like Amadeus, it impresses upon one how brilliant the classical composers were. Still going strong after all these years. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr. G. Kirby
Good
I enjoyed this telling of Beethoven's story which left me pondering how difficult he would have been to live with. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Helen
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