Copying Beethoven stars Ed Harris as Beethoven, bringing none of the soul he imbued into Jackson Pollock, instead playing the composer as an uncontrollable creep who runs around with an ear-horn and yelling at people because he's deaf, annoying his neighbours, drinking heavily, and generally making an ass out of himself. Under heavy makeup (namely a clown nose and a long wig), Harris is nearly unrecognizable.

Into his world comes Anna Holtz (Diane Kruger), a copyist who helps him complete his famous Ninth Symphony. As is the norm for movies with difficult main characters, he alternately adores and abuses her, such that the film consists largely of her leaving then coming back then leaving again.

Unfortunately the film is disjointed and random, unable to decide if it's about Beethoven or Anna, or maybe neither. The film's centerpiece is a performance of the Ninth Symphony, with Holtz shadow-conducting for Beethoven, who can't keep time. Unfortunately Copying Beethoven is a strange tale that lovers of classical music will despise but Generation X'ers may find something.