Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Get 2 for 1 cinema tickets with Orange Click Here

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

Copying Beethoven (2006)

Director: Agnieszka Holland

2

Time Out rating

Average user rating
No reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Within the first three minutes of this by-the-manual period biopic, one of the characters closes her eyes, begins to nod her head and then furiously waves an invisible baton as Beethoven’s ‘Gross Fugue’ mysteriously emanates from the countryside. It’s a gesture which features prominently in this fictional tale of Anna Holtz (Diane Kruger), a waifish young music copyist who becomes Ludwig van Beethoven’s muse. With the kind of brash characterisations that would be more at home in a school play, Ed Harris’ salty interpretation of Beethoven sees him running hot and cold as Anna tries desperately to comprehend his wayward genius. The direction from Polish New Waver Agnieszka Holland feels more like she’s testing a new camera than attempting to capture the nuances of the artistic process, and if we’re to believe the script, then all great art derives ‘from the gut’. ‘Copying Beethoven’ isn’t great art, but we don’t doubt that’s exactly from where it came.

Author: David Jenkins 2007-08-13 17:06:01

Time Out London Issue 1930: August 15-21 2007


  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend
Get 2 for 1 cinema tickets with Orange Click Here

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields





Top Stories

Has Michael Mann lost it?

Has Michael Mann lost it?

Adam Lee Davies mourns the passing of a major Hollywood talent as Michael Mann's 'Public Enemies' sees the great director running on empty

Why 'Ice Age 3' is really for adults

Why 'Ice Age 3' is really for adults

Tom Huddleston takes a look at a selection of films which bring adult problems to a pre-teen audience

Is this Summer 2009's best film?

Is this Summer 2009's best film?

The French filmmaker Claire Denis speaks to Dave Calhoun about her new film, '35 Shots of Rum', a tender portrait of a father-daughter relationship in Paris

The Informant: trailer preview

The Informant: trailer preview

Steven Soderbergh is at it again, this time with a screwball corporate caper starring Matt Damon called 'The Informant'. View the trailer here...

Rudo y Cursi: interview

Rudo y Cursi: interview

Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna talk to Time Out about their highly entertaining new comedy, 'Rudo y Cursi'

An open letter to Peter Morgan

An open letter to Peter Morgan

Tom Huddleston penned an open letter to Peter Morgan offering some friendly dos and don'ts for the new Bond movie

Outdoor film screenings in London 2009

Outdoor film screenings in London 2009

Derek Adams offers a guide to the best places to see films outside in London this summer

50 essential sci-fi films

50 essential sci-fi films

With 'Star Trek' making serious waves, we thought it would be a perfect time to select 50 must-see sci-fi films






The City made easy in association with Sony Ericsson W715