Dame Edna is the least camp and silly thing in this 1994 symphonic love story, starring Gary Oldman and Isabella Rossellini
Director: Bernard Rose
Entertainment grade: C
History grade: Fail
Among Ludwig van Beethoven's papers was found a love letter to an "Immortal Beloved", who has never been conclusively identified.
Premise
What would be the most clangingly obvious way to open a Beethoven biopic? If you guessed a shot of the grumpy, aged Ludwig (Gary Oldman), illuminated by a stage lightning flash, and accompanied by the "duh-duh-duh-duuuuuh" opening notes of the Fifth Symphony, give yourself a gold star and a pat on the frightwig. He dies, and his executor, Anton Schindler (Jeroen Krabbé), finds that his will bequeaths everything to an unnamed "immortal beloved". Stop right there, movie! Beethoven's will did not mention the immortal beloved. So basically the film's entire premise – that Schindler was obliged to turn detective...
Director: Bernard Rose
Entertainment grade: C
History grade: Fail
Among Ludwig van Beethoven's papers was found a love letter to an "Immortal Beloved", who has never been conclusively identified.
Premise
What would be the most clangingly obvious way to open a Beethoven biopic? If you guessed a shot of the grumpy, aged Ludwig (Gary Oldman), illuminated by a stage lightning flash, and accompanied by the "duh-duh-duh-duuuuuh" opening notes of the Fifth Symphony, give yourself a gold star and a pat on the frightwig. He dies, and his executor, Anton Schindler (Jeroen Krabbé), finds that his will bequeaths everything to an unnamed "immortal beloved". Stop right there, movie! Beethoven's will did not mention the immortal beloved. So basically the film's entire premise – that Schindler was obliged to turn detective...
- 7/1/2010
- by Alex von Tunzelmann
- The Guardian - Film News
Gary Oldman is one of those actors, or some might argue the only actor, who could give a chameleon a run for his morphing money. The man almost always dissolves into a role, whether it be dramatic, romantic, or just downright creepy adventure. He lets the actor melt away as the character reigns supreme. Having such a rare and invaluable talent, Oldman's been given some pretty wild roles over the years, and IFC's The Independent Eye has tried to come up with a list of the actor's strangest faces.
For any Oldman fan, there are some that immediately come to mind -- Dracula, Drexl Spivey in True Romance, Zorg in Fifth Element, and Mason Verger in Hannibal are just a few. But you might be surprised by their seven -- Drexl, Zorg, and Mason get their time, but ol' Vlad is nowhere to be found. Instead: Buford Dill from Nobody's Baby,...
For any Oldman fan, there are some that immediately come to mind -- Dracula, Drexl Spivey in True Romance, Zorg in Fifth Element, and Mason Verger in Hannibal are just a few. But you might be surprised by their seven -- Drexl, Zorg, and Mason get their time, but ol' Vlad is nowhere to be found. Instead: Buford Dill from Nobody's Baby,...
- 1/28/2010
- by Monika Bartyzel
- Cinematical
I've written briefly about this scene before, a few years ago, when I retro reviewed Immortal Beloved. Gary Oldman plays a young Beethoven, struggling to keep his descending deafness a secret from those around him. Unbeknownst to him, his student and passion, Guilietta, has schemed up a deal with her father so that he will accept Beethoven's proposal of marriage. A piano will be placed into the room, and while the composer thinks everyone is away, father and daughter will hide and listen to see if there is still music left in the man. If there is, Guilietta can marry Ludwig.
While they hide behind a wall, Beethoven walks over to the piano with trepidation, sits down, and hammers out some jarring notes. It looks like he has, indeed, lost it -- that her father was right. But then a few notes hesitantly flow from Beethoven's fingers. He...
While they hide behind a wall, Beethoven walks over to the piano with trepidation, sits down, and hammers out some jarring notes. It looks like he has, indeed, lost it -- that her father was right. But then a few notes hesitantly flow from Beethoven's fingers. He...
- 12/4/2009
- by Monika Bartyzel
- Cinematical
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