Not that you asked, but I’m a piano player you know.  Been playing since I was a little boy.  I suck at it, and harbor no delusions about my extremely limited ability as a musician, but I still enjoy playing.  Even though I can read music, and can comprehend all of the phrases, ties, bridges and the like, I read music the way a 2^nd grader reads words as there is a disconnect somewhere in my stilted, alcohol damaged brain that keeps me from instinctively knowing what the notes are as opposed to the notes simply bypassing my brain flowing from the eyes to my fingers.  This one of the reasons I have so much respect for musicians, and especially good ones (which I guess means I have some respect for bad ones too, I suppose).  The ability to create good music is truly a gift from God, or from somewhere for those agnostic atheistic ones in the bunch.  A song has the ability to affect you emotionally in two or three minutes where it takes a film or a play hours to accomplish this, or a novel weeks. 

This leads us Agnieszka Holland’s, shall we say, re-imagining of Ludwig Van Beethoven and the days before his landmark 9^th symphony in her film ‘Copying Beethoven’.   It is days before the maniacal and deaf composer, played with over-the-top glee by Ed Harris, is due to have his latest symphony performed and with his man Shclemmer (Ralph Raich), his cancer stricken copyist is far too ill to handle the job, or Ludwig for that matter, not that Beethoven gives a damn. Schlemmer sends for the best and brightest musician at the nearby conservatory, who much to his dismay happens to a young woman.  Anna Holtz (Diane Kruger) remains steadfast and insists that she is the one for the job, plus she is dying for the opportunity to not only work for the living legend but also have him critique her work.

Things start out a little rocky for the boorish, crude composer and his monastery bound copyist, but through hard work and a mutual respect of music they find common ground a develop a unique, if somewhat contentious relationship climaxing in a stirring concert performance of Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony. 

Care must be taken when creating a work of fiction with a revered legend as your central character.  Take say, ‘The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfiefer’ which poked fun at President Abraham Lincoln and his mythical slave.  A show that lasted all of one episode on Fox, or UPN or the WB or whatever channel it came on.  Admittedly, ‘Copying Beethoven’ isn't making light of slavery, but Ed Harris’ Beethoven is so brutish, so misogynistic, so overbearing that it borders on the comic.  Mind you that reports are that this is pretty much how the man was, but we tend to romanticize our legends, not demonize them with facts.  That being said, Harris’ performance carries this somewhat grittily shot, impeccably produced period film and manages to imbue Beethoven with enough humanity to actually make you feel sorry for the guy.  He manages to straddle a fine line of character from caricature, but stays firmly on the side of character with his interpretation of Beethoven.

The climax of the film however, Harris’ performance aside, is the actual concert in which Beethoven conducts the symphony and it is electric.  The events leading up to the symphony, that fact that Beethoven is deaf and was unable to adequately compose the orchestra with any kind of rhythm in rehearsals, Anna essentially conducting  Beethoven conducting the orchestra from the orchestra pit,  and especially the music itself and the choir’s tear wrenching performance of ‘Ode to Joy’.  This is a fifteen minute scene and one would imagine that a scene this long, listening to classical music no less may seem tedious, but the music is presented with such power and passion that is by far the highlight of the movie.  Even if you despise classical music, I challenge you to watch this film and be moved by this sequence.

‘Copying Beethoven’ was an interesting film highlighted by very good performance from Ed Harris and a stirring score.  I failed to mention much about Ms. Kruger, partly because her role seemed inconsequential, even though the film actually centered on her character.  Perhaps she didn’t infuse Anna Holtz with enough personality for one build up feelings for her, but her performance was disposable at best.  Nonetheless, for any fan of any kind of good music, by people who actually know how to play instruments, then ‘Copying Beethoven’ comes recommended.