Copying Beethoven (2006)

O An excellent must-see
O Good rental choice
X Mediocre
O Rent something else

Review by Jason Pyles / April 3, 2007

It’s hard to go wrong with Ed Harris. We liked him in “A History of Violence,” “Radio,” “A Beautiful Mind,” “The Truman Show,” and pretty much every other role — except as Beethoven. Perhaps it’s the wig.

“Copying Beethoven” unsuccessfully tries to imitate the spellbinding “Amadeus” (1984), the story about Mozart’s life as told from Antonio Salieri’s perspective. One problem this movie has is that Beethoven’s understudy is much less interesting than the obsessed Salieri.

Diane Kruger plays Anna Holtz, the conservatory’s brightest composition student who is commissioned to be Beethoven’s copyist. The great maestro, who is all but deaf, needs an assistant to help write out the score for the upcoming premiere of his Ninth Symphony.

Both Beethoven and Holtz have much to learn from each other, but their lessons aren’t much fun to watch: It’s the abusive, maniacal genius versus the perceptive, compassionate heroine.

The soundtrack is replete with Beethoven’s wonderful works. Kruger’s strong, female character walking tall amid a chauvinistic landscape is another positive aspect of the film.

Overall, I was fine with the way “Copying Beethoven” fictionalized its portrayal of the last year of his life; I only wish it hadn’t been trivialized, too.

Directed by Agnieszka Holland
Ed Harris / Diane Kruger / Matthew Goode
104 min. Drama
(Original MPAA rating: PG-13)
Edited version age recommendation: 10 and up

DVD release date: April 3, 2007
Copyright 2007.
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