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Immortal Beloved

R 1994 2h 1m Biography History Drama TRAILER for List
57% Tomatometer 56 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
This biography chronicles the life of infamous classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven (Gary Oldman) and his painful struggle with hearing loss. Following Beethoven's death in 1827, his assistant, Schindler (Jeroen Krabbé), searches for an elusive woman referred to in the composer's love letters as "immortal beloved." As Schindler solves the mystery, a series of flashbacks reveals Beethoven's transformation from passionate young man to troubled musical genius.
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Immortal Beloved

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Critics Consensus

A contrived romantic mystery and ponderous pacing make Immortal Beloved a not-so-joyful ode to Ludwig van Beethoven, despite Gary Oldman's best efforts to inject some passion into proceedings.

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Critics Reviews

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Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune Music scholars have challenged the film's authenticity, but they cannot dispute the magnificent image-making by director Bernard Rose. Rated: 3.5/4 May 24, 2019 Full Review Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune It may be a cartoon. Yet, with Beethoven's compositions crashing and storming around him, it's a cartoon that has some dark, harrowing grandeur. Rated: 2.5/4 May 24, 2019 Full Review Kenneth Turan Los Angeles Times Yes, this is another one of Hollywood's silly symphonies, an unintentionally amusing bit of piffle that allows mortals a privileged glimpse into the private life of a legendary composer. May 24, 2019 Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine Quality dressings can distract from, but never disguise, a weak body. Rated: 6/10 Aug 2, 2022 Full Review David Sterritt Christian Science Monitor The results are always excessive and sometimes quite aggravating, but they're weirdly appropriate to the subject of the story, an over-the-top artiste who seemed excessive and aggravating to many of his 19th-century cronies. May 24, 2019 Full Review Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant Despite Oldman's powers, this adds up to a less than immortal musical love story. Rated: 2.5/4 May 24, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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John W Severely underrated! This is one of those movies that is unforgettable for its passion and soul, even if it doesn't always work. Some of the dialogue and acting is a bit stilted (though that's not true of Rossellini, Oldman, or Ter Steege, who are all great). But I'll take this any time over the more pretentious and less entertaining "Amadeus" (the obvious comparison from around the same time). I rewatched it after years last night, fell in love with it again, and appreciated more than ever how well it seems to capture Beethoven's personality, his follies and tragedies, and the innovative nature of his music. The "Ode to Joy" sequence might be the most moving filmic depiction of someone transcending suffering through art that I've ever seen. And the tragic love story is really gripping, even if there seems to be little basis in fact. You want these people to be happy, but fate has other ideas. Bernard Rose put his heart and soul into the direction, Oldman is magnificent, and the great Johanna Ter Steege is almost unbearably touching in her pride, strength, and ultimate compassion. This is just a wonderful imagining of the artist's life, very sad but also really inspiring and entertaining. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/02/24 Full Review Alec B Rose's imagery is really hit or miss here (often it is silly but a few times it is truly gorgeous) but I think ultimately I appreciated the attempt to visualize the music of Beethoven and connect it with specific emotions. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/21/24 Full Review Blobbo X Man search for the meaning of Rosebud. (Something like that, pretty sure.) Worth a look, listen. Blobbo enjoy. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/23/24 Full Review CKB This film should really be titled Beethoven's Girlfriends. Despite Gary Oldman's earnest efforts, we really learn very little about Beethoven the man and composer, for he is treated like a side character to the succession of women he presumably loved. The final 'solution' of who his 'Immortal Beloved' was is very bogus. Yet another of a long succession of terrible presentations of famous creative people done by very uncreative schmucks. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 10/09/23 Full Review rohit m Well were was the music Beethoven created why was it was so important to show us who was his beloved we didn't ask for it we wanted to know his childhood , how he became a Legend after Mozart not rubbish affairs which were not even accurate please don't do this with anyone else Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/12/23 Full Review Mary P Really enjoyed it. Gary Oldham owned the role, as usual. Really made you feel what Beethoven was going through with his loss of hearing and all of his personal struggles. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Immortal Beloved

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Movie Info

Synopsis This biography chronicles the life of infamous classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven (Gary Oldman) and his painful struggle with hearing loss. Following Beethoven's death in 1827, his assistant, Schindler (Jeroen Krabbé), searches for an elusive woman referred to in the composer's love letters as "immortal beloved." As Schindler solves the mystery, a series of flashbacks reveals Beethoven's transformation from passionate young man to troubled musical genius.
Director
Bernard Rose
Producer
Bruce Davey
Screenwriter
Bernard Rose
Production Co
Icon Entertainment International
Rating
R
Genre
Biography, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.7M
Runtime
2h 1m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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