Immortal Beloved [Blu-ray]

*SPOILER (Jump to the numbers at the bottom of this review if you don't want to know who is Beethoven's Immortal Beloved) A wonderful movie that uses music as much as acting to portrait Beethoven. Director and writer Bernard Rose did a tremendous job using music as a co-star for this wonderful movie. While it is true, there were letters found made out to "Immortal Beloved" written by Beethoven, many scholars believe the woman Beethoven refers to is not even in this movie, but is another married woman named Antonie von Birkenstock Brentano. She was married very young to an older man in an arranged marriage. None the less, this is an enthralling movie that goes into many details of Beethoven's adult life until his death. Oldman is excellent in his role, and does a wonderful job portraying a deaf man holding a secret love for his younger brother's wife. While the identity of Beethoven's Immortal Beloved may incorrect in the movie, other aspects of his life are accurately presented by writer/director Rose who thoroughly researched the film's subject prior to writing the screenplay. Among the themes covered is Beethoven's apparent rudeness, explained here as being due to his deafness, his disdain for both his contemporary musicians and aristocracy as well as his initial like of Napolean(until he declared himself Emperor). His struggle to obtain custody of his nephew Karl as well as his trying to get Karl to follow in his footsteps while Karl only wants to be a soldier is a main theme. All of the music in the film, is very aptly matched to each scene. This is noted by several of the actors on the included featurette. The visuals, locations and costumes are beautiful and span the time of Beethoven being a young man until the time of his death. The film is shot mostly in Prague, a city that pretty much looks like it did 300 years ago. The films is also bright and well lit, so these wonderful scenes can be enjoyed in all their Blu-Ray high definition glory. A wonderful movie for those that enjoy history and music. Note there is some language and nudity.


Movie 4.55/5
Visual Quality 5/5
Audio Quality 5/5
Suppliments 4/5

Whether or not you believe the premise of this dramatic biopic on the flawed genius, Beethoven, this is an excellent intro to those who are unaware of his music. The main performance by Oldman is superb (he was born to play this role with his usual intensity) and director Bernard Rose (Candyman;Paperhouse) serves up the music and Gary's performance with relish particularly visually in "The Ode to Joy" sequence. Compared to "Amadeus", this is the second best bio on a classical composer--too bad it didn't as well at the b.o.

Nowhere in the many reviews of this film have I read that,in fact, Johanna Reiss van Beethoven became pregnant again in 1820 by one Johann Hofbauer.The funny and truly odd thing is that she named the female child Ludovica(the feminine form of the name Ludwig)!Does this strike anyone else as being just a little bit strange considering the hell that Maestro Beethoven put her through with young Karl? That being said, I did enjoy this film very much even though it does take many liberties with the truth. Beethovan did NOT go deaf all at once. It happened over a period of about 20 years. Also, no mention is made of Antonie Brentano or some of the other possible candidates who might be the Immortal Beloved. One thing that this film did do for me was to rekindle the love for Beethoven that I had experienced as a child after "borrowing" my fathers' recording of Rudolf Serkin playing Moonlight Sonata(sorry but no other pianist will do). So, even if there were no other reason for me liking this film(and there is-I love Gary Oldman. I think he is one of the best actors of this or any other generation),I would still be eternally grateful to Bernard Rose and company.

I saw this movie when I was 17 years old. This movie is a mystery as to who is the love of Ludwig's life and it's a former student of Ludwig who is set to the task of solving the mystery of who she is.

You may have to see it twice to "see" how the "mistake" or "mishap" happened but it's a very good movie.

Plus, I loved it so much that I bought the soundtrack. Now, my children know Ludwig's music, which is a wonderful thing.

Some people complain about the accuracy on the historical point of view. Please disregard as the music is what make this movie an homage to this musical genius. The direction of the movie is good enough to present the brilliance and tragedy of a tortured life. I really could care the less if the historical facts were distorted movies are that. Were I focus my attention is on the sublimity of the music and the profound sentiments that come to live as an immortal legacy of the author.