Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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90 of 101 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Music Is The Story, October 23, 2002
This review refers to the Special Eition DVD (Columbia) of this film
The "Maestro" has died. It is a sad day in Vienna. But the question remains, who will inherit the estate of Ludwig Von Beethoven? His surviving brother believes he is entitled to it all. Is he? A letter is found amongst Beethoven's papers bequeathing everything to the addressee. It is addressed only to "My Immortal Beloved". Beethoven's freind and confidante Anton Schindler makes it his duty to find the woman, the maestro has kept secret all these years.
As Schindler combs all of Eastern Europe searching for the mystery woman, the story of Beethoven's life unfolds, as at each stop,Schindler and the women in question exchange their experiences and what they know. We learn of how the world learned of his deafness, of his abusive childhood at the hands of his father, his relationship with these women, his hatred for his brother's wife, his adoration for his nephew Carl, and of his dark temperment.
Throughout the film, there is always the music of Beethoven. The music seems to fit the exact emotion that he is experiencing. Love, saddness, anguish, ravages of war,freedom. It is as though the music is telling the story of his life. You don't have to be a Beethoven afficianado to appreciate this. As a matter of fact this film is an excellent introduction to the music of Beethoven.The scene depicted while his 9th symphony(Ode to Joy) is playing is sheer pleasure to all the senses. Be sure to have a box of tissues ready for the end!
The music of course stands on it's own, and the cast is incredible in their portrayals. Gary Oldman IS Beethoven, Jeroen Krabbe(The Fugituve, No Mercy) is Schindler. As the women in Beethoven's life there is Isabella Rossellini, Valeria Golina(Rainman), and Johanna Ter Steege. Director Bernard Rose does an excellent job of taking us back to this time in history. The photography is breathtaking also.
What a great DVD it is. Well worth having. The 5.1 digitally remastered score is wonderful(You have the choice of 2.0 also) Dialouge crisp. Picture in Anamorphic Widescreen is sharp, colors are bright. Great Special features too. There is a documentary, and you can listen to director Rose's commentary during the film (this is best after the first viewing),he talks about everything from what is actually true, to the style of clothing worn during this period. There are also subtitles in English and Spanish and some production notes.
Film fan or Music fan you will watch this over and over....Laurie
also recommended:
Gandhi
Marilyn Monroe - The Final Days
Edward the Seventh
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34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beethoven It Ain't, But Movie-Making It Is, January 22, 2002
No. You won't learn about the truth of the identity of Beethoven's eponymous title from this marvelous film, told in cinematic episodic jumps, fits and starts and from various points of view each based on an 'interviews' by Anton Schindler afer Ludwig Von Beethoven's death. The plot, at least insofar as the revelation of the true lady behind the tortured Maestro's love, is just so much hooey.
But the evolution of Beethoven as a composer might just be fairly valid, if exaggerated and oversimplified. Beethoven's growing deafness, his outrageously overprotective attitudes towards his nephew (culminating in a botched suicide attempt by the latter), the invasion of Vienna, are all documented and presented in this gorgeous film with, at times, heartbreaking verisimilitude.
And, you will probably never again hear many of Beethoven's most famous pieces without recalling the images of the film. The last movement of the famous 'Moonlight' piano sonata accompanies a furiously rushing coach through the rainy streets so Beethoven can meet his beloved; an image of the composer superimposed against the cosmos accompananies the Ninth Symphony (Choral). And so much more.
Gary Oldman as the composer is perfect. Jeroen Krabbe is just right as his Boswellian friend who seeks the truth at all costs after Beethoven's death.
The settings are sumptuous. You will appreciate the cutting and the editing more and more as the film progresses. Ditto the superb direction. The score is magnificently realized by both orchestra and conductor and pianist, chamber musicians, all involved.
Reality? Nope. A tantalazing suggestion of what might have realistically been? That's more of what you can expect. If you want reality, I suggest you take George R. Marek's unsurpassable biography, 'Beethoven,' out of the library and luxuriate in it.
'Immortal Beloved' is a cinematic experience that will most likely appeal to lovers of classical music in general and Beethoven's music in particular. But this statement should not put off anyone who is not necessarily a fan. If anything, the more casual listener might just be entranced enough to understand why Beethoven and his music have lasted through the centuries.
This is a film for all of us.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oldman Film - Always A Good Idea, February 3, 2005
This film has everything I love in it. Beautiful music, beautiful costuming, beautiful locations, beautiful performances, a wonderful screenwriter and director. No one can really complain about the few inaccuracies and yes flaws in this film surely. It amazes me how there can be so many people disappointed in this regard. If you need absolute accuracy, watch a documentary or read a history book. I love films based on real people and events, and I don't mind that there are things "made up" in these films. After all, no one was "there" to repeat dialogue word for word. There must be a lot of fill-in material and you just hope you'll be lucky enough to have someone like Gary Oldman chosen to play the starring role. If you are, you cannot go wrong. You must enjoy period pieces as well as classical music however to enjoy this film.
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