Immortal Beloved [Blu-ray]
by Bernard Rose
![Immortal Beloved [Blu-ray]](/images/Immortal-Beloved-Blu-ray-B000RO6JWC-L.jpg)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Christopher Fulford, Gary Oldman, Isabella Rossellini, Marco Hofschneider, Valeria GolinoDirector: Bernard Rose
Brand: Sony
Cinematographer: Peter Suschitzky
Blu-ray: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Korean (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Original Language); French (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 2.40:1
Running Time: 121 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: 2007-08-21
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Immortal Beloved [Blu-ray]
Movie Review: Fiery Passion and Genius
Summary: 5 Stars
Though this is a work of fiction, it does in fact reveal the genius of Beethoven, through passions and rages of scorching intensity. Director Bernard Rose in the commentary compares the film's construction to that of "Citizen Kane," in that it begins with a mystery that begs to be solved if the man is to be understood. In this case, it's a final will bequeathing everything to his "Immortal Beloved," along with an undelivered billet-doux to the unknown woman. In the course of trying to fulfill the maestro's last wishes, the executor of Beethoven's estate explores the composer's past. Through flashbacks, Beethoven's dizzying genius and private pain are revealed. It's true, that there is some license here, but it's respectful of the facts, and tries to stay within the lines while exploring the possibilities. First, there really was such a final will discovered among his papers. Also, the custody battle over his nephew is well documented, and transcripts were consulted for some word-for-word re-creation, as Rose discloses in his commentary. The film takes license in that Rose purports to have solved the mystery, and he makes such a strong case, I'm partially convinced he has.
But all of that is merely a means of exploring Beethoven. A thorough knowledge of his music, which I do not possess, would probably heighten the appreciation of some references to it. For instance, even in my limited familiarity, I know that the 5th Symphony is about fate knocking at one's door. The very first scene of the film is of Beethoven's weary, hoary head on a white pillow, surrounded by night. Lightning strobes in sync with the sudden obtrusion of the 5th. He succumbs. It was an artful touch, and there might be others similar to it that I can't catch, lacking as I do the prerequisite knowledge. The primary point here is that the opening allusion adverted to me from the outset that this would be a meticulously crafted film. But a previous knowledge of the context of his music is not essential toward appreciating this intelligent film in its own right. When the credits rolled after I showed it to my companion, who had never given the man any thought whatsoever, she said in the warm afterglow of awe, "I'll never look at that music the same way."
For the performances by the actors, I'm not sure I'm being hyperbolic in saying that Gary Oldman is as stellar an actor as Beethoven was a composer. He was downright explosive at times, disdainful others, but somehow always sympathetic. His performance was nothing short of magnificent. In one of the documentaries on the disc, Oldman admits that he turned the role down a couple of times, until his agent convinced him it would be the right thing. Thank heaven! He was a fierce presence every time he was on the screen, as you'd imagine Beethoven himself must have been when he walked into a room.
If you already own the SD DVD, as I did, and you still love this film, I suggest you go ahead and upgrade to the Blu-ray. There is so much filigree in the location shots and the costumes, it definitely benefited throughout from the hi-def transfer, and made seeing it even more pleasurable. The artistry of the film is given a more rightful emphasis.
As for the special features, there's the aforementioned commentary track; a 30-minute documentary "Beloved Beethoven" in which the director and other principals of the film reveal some interesting aspects of Beethoven himself; and the original behind-the-scenes featurette (about seven minutes). So there was nothing new added for the Blu-ray edition, but in this case, the beauty of the film alone makes it worth the upgrade.
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Summary of Immortal Beloved [Blu-ray]
IMMORTAL BELOVED - Blu-Ray MovieThis thrilling, speculative story about the mystery woman whom Ludwig van Beethoven once identified in a letter as his "immortal beloved" is directed by Bernard Rose (Paperhouse). Gary Oldman plays the deaf genius with tragic brutality in a series of flashbacks that arise during a connect-the-dots investigation by Beethoven's secretary (Jeroen Krabbé), who is looking into the composer's love affairs to ascertain who held the key to his heart. Rose arrives at a moving if imperfect portrait of a complicated artist, and he pays gorgeous tribute to Beethoven's stolen innocence in childhood. (You may never hear the Ninth Symphony again without thinking of Rose's beautiful image of young Ludwig immersed in cosmic rapture.) Produced by Mel Gibson's company, Icon. --Tom Keogh
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