Copying Beethoven (DVD, 2007)

When a young Vienna Music Conservatory student and aspiring composer accepts a job as a copyist for Ludwig von Beethoven, she soon finds her destiny forever interlinked with that of the legendary classical musician. Beethoven (Ed Harris)'s "Ninth Symphony" is about to make its historical debut, but Beethoven's publisher Herr Schlemmer is dying of cancer. Now in desperate need of a copyist to complete the score, the ailing Schlemmer enlists the aid of ambitious student Anna Holz (Diane Kruger); who readily accepts the job despite an explicit warning that the composer is a callous wretch.

A movie with next to no distribution, in my mind this should have won the Oscar for Best Movie of the Year.

Beethoven is a nasty guy, he's writing his Ninth Symphony while going deaf. He ends up with a female copyist who he doesn't like, but so what? He doesn't like anybody! They get to know each other and help each other. There's no requisite Hollywood love story, though. It all climaxes when Beethoven leads the orchestra in the debut of his Ninth Symphony.

Unfortunately the movie goes on aimlessly after that for another half hour but even with that giant flaw, it was the movie of the year.

Both the actor and actress are my favourite stars. Great Art Direction, Great Costumes and Shooting scenes. Sharp dialogues. Outstanding Beethoven music. I have viewed this movie with friends, and right after finish, all my friends went out and bought each one a DVD. Recommend to buy both the DVD and the CD. Excellent collection for anybody who loves Art, Costumes, nice Scenes, Music and the Great Performance. I am agree with an Oscar of this movie. A must to own.

Loved the movie and the music is great. I would suggest watching on a big screen tv with surround sound to enjoy it to the fullest.

I rented this movie about a year ago and it stuck with me, so I decided to look it up on Ebay and buy it.Its an interesting look at the life of Beethoven and his obsession and love for his music.Its dark and beautiful at the same time.Ed Harris was great as always and really put himself into his character.
So if you love the music of Beethoven you will love this movie and want this movie in your collection.

Forget the critics - people who do not work for a living, ermites who gnaw at the true accomplishments of others - imps. This movie sustained considerable negative criticism that it did not deserve. Critics tended to focus on the ract that no such thing ever happened (such as the plot of this movie). It's fiction - HELLO!. It's a great movie, very moving. It's great FICTION. I highly recommend it.

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Great performances, Direction, and Cinematography! Not to mention a truly intriguing plot and DELICIOUS Soundtrack. A film you'll want to watch again and again.

This movie was as exciting as I imagined. I must admit, that I have been a loving fan of Beethoven for more than forty years. I thought the movie started a bit slowly as it developed its plot, but became stronger as describing the composing process, with his new "scribe" Anna Holtz, (Diane Kruger) was shown. Beethoven's sense of humor was really refreshing. I (and probably many others) had thought for years, that he must have been a boring and an even troubled sort of person, because of his "disability of deafness".

It was refreshing to see such a whimsical humor, that had no limits, and everyone was a target for it. Though his humor was sometimes cruel (until he realized he had hurt someone's feelings, though unintentional), he really meant no harm...or did he??? It was so wonderful to study every aspect of his life and his love...the music...the ultimate, divine, and limitless love of his finished compositions. And then...

WOW--Oh--WOW!!!!! I WAS SO SWEPT UP WITH THE ACTUAL CONCERT HE PUT ON FOR ROALTY AND COMMONER ALIKE!!!! HIS FINISHED COMPOSITION WAS EXHILIARATING, SO FULL OF LIFE AND LOVE; SO "ALIVE" WITH PASSION; SO DRIVEN WITH PRECISION, AND SO MUCH MORE!! Anyone not swept up with the sheer passion of that concert could only mean two things, that they were deaf themselves or dead.

I never knew that Herr Beethoven had such a mean and demanding spirit about himself. And he knew it too. He could torture the closest persons and family members and not have a second thought about it pass his mind. On the other hand, his generosity and professionalism and loyalty to others could be quite admirable too. Ed Harris' whole portrayal was so magnificent and very revealing as one of the best actors that could have portrayed him so wonderfully. If Ed Harris did not win an Academy Award or Oscar or any others, he was robbed! His portrayal of Ludwig Van Beethoven was so wonderful, so insightful, and so energetic and more and more and more!! I am so pleased and awestruck to be able to finally see one of the greatest composers of all time on the big screen, and I will cherish my copy for so many years to come. ET

I would highly recommend this feel to those classical lovers out there. 'Harris' did an excellent job being Beethoven.

Copying Beethoven is a movie anyone fascinated by the great composer's music would want to see. However, after watching the movie and enjoying the superb musical scenes, the difficulties of making a movie on a deaf man become quite evident. How can someone afflicted with chronic deafness engage in conversation so effortlessly, as depicted in many scenes? While it is common knowledge that Beethoven was given to temper tantrums and untidiness, this aspect of Beethoven seems over-dramatized in the movie. The role of the heroine, Anna Holz, a fictional character, appears exaggerated at the expense of the composer himself. Those who are awed by the sublime music of Beethoven wouldn't want their image of the composer sullied by cinematic liberties, which the movie director has taken. Despite all this, it is a treat for the excellent musical sequences, the good acting of the hightly talented Harris and the beautiful German actress, Diane Kruger. One also wonders how else the movie could have been done.