Copying Beethoven (contd)

[Rod]

Originally posted by Peter:
I'm pleased to hear that - the mistake of the past Beethoven efforts such as Eroica has been to target a specific audience, whereas Amadeus set out to attract a new audience and if you can achieve this - 'his name shall be called wonderful'!

Amadeus had the advantage of having a murder plot and a central character that has on occasion quite crazy and comic tendencies!

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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[srivele]

Originally posted by Rod:
Amadeus had the advantage of having a murder plot and a central character that has on occasion quite crazy and comic tendencies!

That's one of the reasons we invented the character of Anna Holtz: so that our film might have the advantage of a potential love story, and a central character who has crazy and comic tendencies.

[Michael]

Just came across this news item:

By Arthur Spiegelman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Ed Harris is a talented man. He can explode violently on request, and he can play Beethoven -- the man -- before a black tie audience of concert-goers.

He is also smart enough not to play Beethoven -- the music -- in public.

At the recent Toronto International Film Festival, Harris was asked at a press conference for his new film, "A History of Violence," in which he plays a menacing gangster, if violence lay just below the surface of everyday life. One of his co-stars had taken about 10 minutes to answer that question and Harris was not about to be outdone.

He pounded the table three times, turned beet red and flung a glass behind him. He then wordlessly scowled at questioners for a few minutes before breaking into a smile.

Now on Thursday night, it will be a well-mannered Harris at work as he joins the opening night of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Harris will read from Beethoven's letters in a special presentation during an all-Beethoven concert.

In an interview, Harris said he came to the task honestly -- he spent months playing Beethoven in a movie made by Polish film director Agnieszka Holland called "Copying Beethoven," about the composer's last years as he battles increasing deafness.

"It was not my idea to be in front of the Philharmonic but to put the music in the context of his life and hopefully enhance the evening," he said of the letters he will read.

"I never saw myself playing Beethoven and I am very proud," he said of the movie, which is looking for a distributor.

Prior to doing the movie, Harris said he was not much of a listener to classical music but he has started playing the piano and "I am keeping up with my lessons."

Reuters/VNU

[Joy]

Michael, that was a very informative and interesting article! Thanks for sharing that with us.

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'Truth and beauty joined'

[untamed_personality]

Originally posted by Joy:
Michael, that was a very informative and interesting article! Thanks for sharing that with us.

Agreed! Thanks, Michael.

[Joy]

Last night I saw on TV a coming attraction of Ed Harris' new film "A History of Violence" coming to movie theatres (that was fast). Once again he is in heavy make up with half of his face scarred. There's also a review in today's AZ Republic newspaper giving it four and 1/2 stars.

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'Truth and beauty joined'

[srivele]

Originally posted by Joy:
Last night I saw on TV a coming attraction of Ed Harris' new film "A History of Violence" coming to movie theatres (that was fast). Once again he is in heavy make up with half of his face scarred. There's also a review in today's AZ Republic newspaper giving it four and 1/2 stars.

Last night Ed Harris read from Beethoven's letters on an all-Beethoven program for the
L A Phil's opening night gala fundraiser at the new Disney Concert Hall. I was across the street at the L A Opera in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion seeing a production of Pagliacci. Tickets for the L A Phil concert ranged from $1500 to $10,000. I hope it went well. At those prices, they should have resurrected Beethoven himself.

[Joy]

Originally posted by srivele:

Last night Ed Harris read from Beethoven's letters on an all-Beethoven program for the
L A Phil's opening night gala fundraiser at the new Disney Concert Hall. I was across the street at the L A Opera in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion seeing a production of Pagliacci. Tickets for the L A Phil concert ranged from $1500 to $10,000. I hope it went well. At those prices, they should have resurrected Beethoven himself.

Pagliacci, a wonderful opera. Not a small piece of change that's for sure but I'll bet the Phil concert was a full house.



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'Truth and beauty joined'

[srivele]

Originally posted by Rod:
I'm in London, will I be able to buy a ticket!?

The initial results from the test screening in London are very positive. I'll keep you posted.

[Beyond Within]

'A History of Violence' has made me very excited about Ed Harris in the Beethoven Film.

I suggest everyone see the former movie because Harris's role is one of the best acting performances by anyone I have seen, and the movie itself is masterpiece quality. It may be extremely gory in parts, but the acting is superb! (besides, the gore is staged in very clever, visceral ways which make for extremely satisfying and amusing scenery; there were many times in the theater when my friends and I just burst out into exclamations of ecstasy because of the brute intensity of it.) The gangster role Ed Harris plays is just awesome -- far, far more subtlety than I have seen hitherto from the same actor. Specifically: the scene in the mall was hilarious.

It will be interesting how he interprets a timid role, as his roles have always been kind of imposing -- though I guess Beethoven himself was imposing in certain situations...



[This message has been edited by Beyond Within (edited 10-04-2005).]

[srivele]

Originally posted by Beyond Within:
'A History of Violence' has made me very excited about Ed Harris in the Beethoven Film.

I suggest everyone see the former movie because Harris's role is one of the best acting performances by anyone I have seen, and the movie itself is masterpiece quality. It may be extremely gory in parts, but the acting is superb! (besides, the gore is staged in very clever, visceral ways which make for extremely satisfying and amusing scenery; there were many times in the theater when my friends and I just burst out into exclamations of ecstasy because of the brute intensity of it.) The gangster role Ed Harris plays is just awesome -- far, far more subtlety than I have seen hitherto from the same actor. Specifically: the scene in the mall was hilarious.

It will be interesting how he interprets a timid role, as his roles have always been kind of imposing -- though I guess Beethoven himself was imposing in certain situations...

[This message has been edited by Beyond Within (edited 10-04-2005).]

I can assure you that our Beethoven is anything but timid. Having seen Ed's performance three times now, I have no hesitation in saying that it is the best work he has yet done; the most subtle, powerful and nuanced performance I have seen of his, and I have seen just about everything he has done. The test audience loved his performance, as they did Diane's, which is something of a revelation, I think.

[OB]

Hi SR,

According to imdb.com, the post-production of 'Copying Beethoven' is just finished. Is any news about when and where the perimere will be held? I think it's so great for all of the cast and crew will be reunion soon and share together of the fruitful results of the movie! God bless all of you!

[srivele]

Originally posted by OB:
Hi SR,

According to imdb.com, the post-production of 'Copying Beethoven' is just finished. Is any news about when and where the perimere will be held? I think it's so great for all of the cast and crew will be reunion soon and share together of the fruitful results of the movie! God bless all of you!

Thank you for your kind wishes; they mean a lot. Post-production is not finished: there will be another test screening in London on October 24, followed by the dubbing session in London beginning on November 15. It is possible that the premiere will occur at the Berlin Film Festival, but nothing has yet been decided. I do not expect the film to premiere anywhere before February. I will keep you posted.

[OB]

Thanks for the updated info. Just wonder if you'll attend the permiere.

Originally posted by srivele:

Thank you for your kind wishes; they mean a lot. Post-production is not finished: there will be another test screening in London on October 24, followed by the dubbing session in London beginning on November 15. It is possible that the premiere will occur at the Berlin Film Festival, but nothing has yet been decided. I do not expect the film to premiere anywhere before February. I will keep you posted.

[srivele]

Originally posted by OB:
Thanks for the updated info. Just wonder if you'll attend the permiere.

I will if I can manage it. But please note: in Hollywood, writers have had to fight for the right to be invited to premieres of the films we write. We still do not have the right, though studios are urged to invite us. However, since I am also a producer on this film, I suppose I will invite myself, though whether I will pay for myself remains to be seen.