Copying Beethoven (2006)

Wow! Such a good movie.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

This movie made me feel....well....what am I trying to say...nauseated.Every cast read like they were trying their worst, including Harris, who is a good actor and was fantastic in Pollack. Music insertions during the entire movie were inappropriate. Beethoven is one of most beloved geniuses but not a single actor or scene depicted such brilliance and utter tragedy. Some of the scene were near (poorly executed) copies of scenes from other books/movies.The movie dabbles in a maze of confusing themes: I struggled to follow the ever-changing theme and constantly distracted by ridiculously poor - acting, writing, scenery, music segment choices and placements, and relentless one-liners.I was determined to continue watching the movie. In fact, I watched it twice in a row. And the most important and perhaps one scene that can help common folks, like myself, to look into the soul of brilliance, would have been during the "9th" concert scene. Yet, I was entirely disappointed with the lack of synchronization between the music and conducting and unpreparedness of musical acting (pretending to look like a real musician) by the acting cast. Despite my best effort to understand and like the movie, even just a bit, this movie is a disaster. Maybe all is not lost - teachers can use this movie to show students how not-to-act and how not-to-direct/produce.I saw (twice). I cringed. I wrote my first movie review.

I came upon this movie while looking for something to watch on cable TV. I have always enjoyed Ed Harris. I also love classical music. So, I decided to give it a go. From the first moments, I was completely engrossed. The music was splendid, the cinematography was gorgeous, and the storyline was compelling. But most of all, Ed Harris's performance was stellar. He deserved an Academy Award for this role. Like a chameleon, he disappears into each character he portrays and this was no exception - his acting was stupendous, admirable, incredible. The movie held my interest from start to finish.I have read where Copying Beethoven has been compared to Amadeus. When I first saw Amadeus in the theater, I knew it would win the Academy Award for Best Picture and that one or both of the main actors would win an Academy Award. The only comparisons I can make to the two movies are: Ed Harris should have won an Academy Award for his performance as Beethoven. Similarly, both movies had sensational music. And, each movie was glorious to the eye, titillating to the imagination, and heavenly to the ear.How did this movie fall through the cracks? Many viewers are missing a true classic if they have not had the opportunity to see this movie - and that is a colossal shame!

I caught part of this movie grazing on the MGM channel.  Later I had the fortune to watch its entirety on Netflix.  Let me just say that I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and only wish that better promotion might have earned Ed Harris the Oscar nod he deserves.  Harris gave everything he had to bring this difficult characterization to life.   He embodied   contradictions ranging from boastful to humble, strong to weak, brutish to sensitive, and godless to spiritual.The movie studies the intersection of two people at opposite points in life's trajectories.  Ed Harris as the crusty maestro Beethoven in his declining years, and the lovely Diane Kruger as the talented young music student Anna Holtz.  Ms. Kruger is beautiful here, as she was in the National Treasure movies.  I now better see her charming versatility as an actress.   Beethoven needs Anna, and vice versa.Let me also say that with minimal effort I "suspended disbelief" while watching this movie.   I did not worry whether Beethoven would have enlisted a female copyist, or whether this movie took other artistic license.  The characters seemed real, and their interactions sincere.  I even enjoyed seeing Beethoven from the perspective of his two neighbors.With modest improvements this movie could have improved substantially, perhaps even on par with the classic Amadeus.  First, the budget of $11 million was too small to produce and promote an expensive period piece requiring large ensembles, such as needed for the performance of the Ninth Symphony.  This critical scene was a highlight in the movie,   however, so I can't help wondering if it was at an expense that detracted from promotion and distribution?  Also, there were some dangling script threads that should have been removed or brought to better closure.  One was with Beethoven's nephew, and the other Anna's boyfriend.  To me these portrayal's seemed incidental.  Another alternative would have been to reduce the opening segment to allow more time to fully resolve meaning from these relationships.  Finally, the movie ended a bit abruptly without offering a smooth transition to Anna's life after Berthoven; we see where she is, but not how she got there.Definitely enjoyed the movie and have new respect for Ed Harris!

I was going to praise the other reviewers even as I disagreed with them and then I read a few more and a few more and I started stewing. I am not a professional writer. I neither write movie reviews or movies themselves. However I do understand the idea of "willing suspension of disbelief". No one ever said this was a totally factual account of the life of Beethoven. First of all, we will never see one. No one knows all the facts of his life. It was too long ago. So let us enjoy the movie which does a beautiful job of trying to explain what Beethoven's life might have meant, seen through the eyes of a young woman. Women perceive people differently. They listen differently and pick up on other's inner monologue more easily. I think telling that particular story in any other way would have been a big mistake. I most strongly disagree with the statement that Beethoven tries to speak for God. No, Beethoven tries to explain that God speaks to him and it was only when he became deaf that he could hear her clearly. It is an inspiring movie. If you love the music of Beethoven as I do I think you will enjoy this movie. I have to admit that I started to cry during one passage when a some favorite music of Beethoven's was being clarified and completed. Rent the movie or borrow it from the library. It is worth the price and the time.