This is one strange movie. I don’t know how I actually feel about it. In fact I am not sure whether I liked it or not. I can’t even guarantee that you will like the movie if you are a Beethoven fan. Here’s the plot:
Beethoven (Ed Harris) needs a good copyist so his helper has asked for the best music student to copy Beethoven’s notes. He is appalled to find out that the student sent is a young woman -Anna Holtz (Diane Kruger). Despite his and Beethoven’s prejudices, Anna is determined that she is indeed the best student and she will try her best to gain Beethoven’s trust and put up with his idiosyncrasies. It isn’t easy, since he can be gentle or mean and she can never know what he will be in the mood for.But albeit complicated, their relationship becomes stronger in time.
Favorite Scene:
The concert premiere, where Anna helps Beethoven leads the orchestra, since his hearing difficulty is making it difficult to lead on his own- both Diane Kruger and Ed Harris are wonderful in this scene and the music is well..amazing. Even if you are not into classical music…
Favorite line:
Ludwig van Beethoven: I’m a very difficult person, Anna Holtz, but I take comfort in the fact that God made me that way.
(from imdb.com)
Performances:
* Diane Kruger is good. Matthew Goode plays her romantic interest and he is lovely. Another supporting actor is Joe Anderson- he plays Beethoven’s nephew. He is good at reflecting the differences between him and his famous uncle. They are all pretty OK. But Ed Harris is just so brilliant and so unrecognizable. Why he wasn’t nominated for another leading actor Oscar is beyond me. Maybe the academy is planning to give him the freaking award the next time he is nominated- he has been nominated for 4 times already! (Twice for leading, twice for supporting actor)
As a movie:
It is rather about the music, the man and the girl’s determination. Nothing much really happens so do not get into it expecting lots of events or interesting dialogue. But…if you are an Ed Harris fan, do not miss it.
Fact:
6.8 on IMDB, voted by over 4.600 people. What is interesting is that the movie’s discussion board has like 15 pages so a lot of people have reacted to this film. I am still not sure what to make of the film, but I am positive that I now have even a higher level of respect for Harris.
Other Ed Harris Movies
Swing Shift starring Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell & Ed Harris
A Beautiful Mind starring Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris & Paul Bettany
Other Diane Kruger Movies
Wicker Park starring Josh Hartnett, Diane Kruger, Rose Byrne & Matthew Lillard
The Hunting Party starring Richard Gere, Jesse Eisenberg & Terrence Howard. Feat. Kruger