Immortal Beloved (Deluxe Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Immortal Beloved (Deluxe Edition)
Movie Review: An immortally perfect film
Summary: 5 Stars
I first came across this movie whilst surfing the internet, and based on previous reviews, i was compelled to watch it, since i had watched Amadeus, and would like to have this movie as a companion film. After a whole month of scouring most of the DVD shops for the DVD/VCD of this movie and to no avail, i ordered my copy here, and i must say that i have not regretted my purchase.Being a music student, this film has opened the world of Beethoven to me, and thus began a greater and deeper appreciation of his sublime works. This film not only focuses on Beethoven's music, but also about his troubled love affair, his "immortal beloved", to whom he had dedicated his entire estate. I was also very impressed with Gary Oldman's remarkable and outstanding performance as the deaf composer. His versatility as an actor has truly paid off in this movie.
Be prepared for quite a few scenes in this movie that might just tear your heart apart. The scene in which Beethoven places his head on the piano, just to feel the vibrations of the piano strings as he plays the languidly beautiful "moonlight" sonata is heartwrenching, for we sense, deep down, the composer's frustration. How is it possible for a composer so talented to be unable to hear his own compositions, music that words alone cannot describe?
Director Bernard Rose surely saves the best for last. Unforgettable is the sequence where Beethoven, in the concert hall during the premiere of the Ninth Symphony, has flashbacks of his childhood, where the young Beethoven escapes from his house and runs through the woods (such wonderful scenery!) accompanied by the finale of his "Choral" symphony. Viewers will be emotionally transfixed to the screen, totally absorbed in the enrapturing music.
Last but not least, and my most favourite scene of all, is the "finale" of the movie, where the true identity of Beethoven's "immortal beloved" is revealed. The 2nd movement of the "Emperor" piano concerto is played, as an excerpt of Beethoven's letter to the Immortal Beloved is read out (by Oldman). Such passion manifested in the words, together with the searchingly beautiful Adagio and the heartwrenching scene arouse such emotion and beauty that one will inevitably reach out for a tissue.
A highly recommended movie to rewatch over and over again. Do get the soundtrack as well, with recordings done by Sir Georg Solti with the London Symphony Orchestra, and featuring guest players such as Yo-Yo Ma, Murray Perahia, Emanuel Ax and more. A unique love story that will leave us in tears, but our hearts warm and fuzzy at the end.
Movie Review: Much underrated; Must see if you love Beethoven
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie was an unfortunate commercial flop (made only $9.8m), but it ranks with Amadeus as one of the greatest classical music related movies of all time.
Certainly, I have yet to see any movie as good related to Beethoven.
It is very obvious the creators lovingly devoted much of their effort and time in crafting a highly coherent and interwoven biography of one of music's greats. Such devotion, I believe, was motived by the creators' love of Beethoven and his music. Indeed, it is hard not to love Beethoven's music.
I have read many books about Beethoven. But movies can do what books cannot. Movies can fill the imagination with visualization and delight the ear with music to feel the soul of the character. The "Immortal Beloved" allowed me to understand Beethoven as no other medium could.
Beethoven, in my humble opinion, was the greatest classical composer. There might have been better technicians with finer sense of musical nuances. Bach and Mozart comes to mind when describing musical geniuses. But neither Bach nor Mozart, however, had to overcome the kinds of tremendous obstacles that Beethoven had to overcome to become the finest composer of his day. Unlike Mozart who had a very supportive and a very finest of music teacher as a father, Beethoven grew up in an unloving family with a drunken father who beat him on a regular basis. And he often took the beating in lieu of of his younger sibling whom Beethoven had to support in the midst of a poverty. Impressively, he rose to become the greatest pianist and composer of his generation. Beethoven's greatest creation and inspiration, the 9th Symphony, was written after he had become completely deaf. Yet the 9th Symphony is not about bitter hopelessness brought on by life's tragedies. Out of all his works, it is the 9th Symphony that expresses the awesome joy of life. It is about hope, inspiration, and triumphing over all obstacles with an indomitable spirit and determination. Beethoven's motto must have been "if determination great, no obstacle can be great". And I admire him greatly.
The only negative aspect of this movie is its rather speculative conclusion of whom the "immortal beloved" was. I won't give it away, but the movie's conclusion differs from the conclusion of most experts on Beethoven. The movie's emphasis on the Beethoven's "immortal beloved" detracted the movie from the truly immortal Beethoven.
Movie Review: Very entertaining speculation
Summary: 5 Stars
The first time I saw this highly imaginative romance, based on the life of Ludwig Van Beethoven, I thought it was a masterpiece. It has held up in successive viewings, although I have to say, it seems a bit different each time I watch it, depending on the mood I'm in. In the documentaries included on the disc, the producer notes that Immortal Beloved is to be taken as fiction. I did a web search to find out who the real "immortal beloved" is supposed to have been, and they still don't know. If you're certain you do; Do tell. But until I hear something more convincing than vague innuendoes, as far as I'm concerned, this version of the story is as plausible as any.
This review started life as a reaction to someone else's review, and the "official" review by the writer for the New Yorker above. The gist of my piece was; ". . . what the heck? If you didn't like the movie; you didn't like it. I admit it does make Beethoven look a bit like a spoiled Rock star. But I can't agree it's not an entertaining movie. Given the elements of the story, it does make me wonder who such an evil minded old curmudgeon could ever love with such a passion. Purely as a love story of a person with a great talent and a very frustrating disability, it appeals."
As for the New Yorker piece; one should expect no less. I've read the New Yorker, and have always found their editor's selections less than worthwhile, however well written, and the piece here is no exception. It doesn't reflect the sense of the movie. Apparently, the writer was expecting an Amadeus clone and was ticked at the effort, as well as the fact he didn't get one. About the only thing this movie has in common with Amadeus is that it's a fiction based on the life of a great composer. No doubt we have Amadeus's success to thank for its existence, but the connection goes no further.
This movie is best for when you're in a Beethoven state of mind. If you're not ready to spend some time in love with Classical music and a great story of possibly its most central figure, you might want to consider looking elsewhere for your evening's entertainment. But if you want great music and excellent performances in an exceptionally interesting and enjoyable tale, Immortal Beloved will serve nicely.
Movie Review: Beethoven It Ain't, But Movie-Making It Is
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Movie Review: (...)
Summary: 5 Stars
(...)While I love "Amadeus" purely for Mozart's music and what the film did for that music, it is so inaccurate in its depiction of Mozart's life. "Immortal Beloved" is more of a theory type move than "Amadeus" and it is, in fact, more accurate (where it needs to be) than "Amadeus" is."Immortal Beloved" does not pretend to be an accurate tell all story about Beethoven and his life. It is a "theory" film. When Beethoven died, he left his entire estate to his "Immortal Beloved". That is fact - and no one knows for certain who this woman was. This movie is a story (theory) about who this woman could be. Although I doubt the outcome is real, it is very interesting.
Where the film hits home is its depiction of Beethoven as a man terrified of a world discovering his secret deafness. In life, Beethoven compared taking a deaf composer as seriously as one would take a blind painter. He wrote his final symphony (#9) while completely deaf. During his life, he was viewed as a cruel, cold-hearted man. This film does a wonderful job in showing a more real picture of the man behind the music. A passionate, lonely, terrified man.
The highlight of this film for me is the music. Before I saw this film - the Piano Concerto No. 5 - Emperor was my favorite non-opera piece. The usage of that piece in this film blew me a way and heightened my love and appreciation for. I cannot listen to the 2nd mov't without tearing up and imaging the scene that accompanies it in the film. That is one of my favorite scenes in all of cinema. That could not have possibly picked a better piece of music to accompany the heartfelt, powerful scene.
The acting, setting, and direction are wonderful as well. This film has no shortcomings in any form. It has to be taken for what it is and what it is intended to be. Just like “Amadeus”.
It does not pretend to be anything more than it is, unlike "Amadeus" - a movie where real events were changed in favor of drama and box office receipts. "Amadeus" is one of my favorite films because of its music - but its story (at certain points) is downright inaccurate and despicable!