SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Softwing Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

cowboyerik I waited a month for my copy and as it was not a USA region, watched on a large laptop. I am sure I did not get the full impact of the big screen and can imagine the full glory of the production. This movie title is not to be missed. It's the first of it's kind and a tribute to musical style long lost and resurrected as surely only David can provide. From my perspective as a learned musician he is the only modern living choice to play the part. While at times the movie may seem dark and perhaps entirely to brief considering the Paginini lived to be in his 50's, I think it's the correct snap shot. If you have an inclination to go back in time and witness musical history, this movie is for you.

TxMike Nicolo Paganini, born in 1782, was a genuine child prodigy, learning Mandolin and Violin at the ages of 5 and 6. By the time he was 13 he traveled about Italy to find the best teachers but they told him he was too advanced, they could not teach him. He was certainly the best and most known violinist of the late 1700s and early 1800s. And many still think that he remains the best violinist of all time. In fact he was so good that some people of that period were sure he had a pact with the dEVIL. And it even prevented him, upon his death, to have a Christian burial.And that is the significance of the title of this movie. It takes the life of the real violinist, Nicolo Paganini, and weaves in a fictional story about his special appearance in London, where he also met a young soprano, but was destined for love unfulfilled.The star, and one of the producers, is actual concert violinist David Garrett as the adult Niccolò Paganini. Garrett himself was a child prodigy of sorts and when you see him play he can do remarkable things, Paganini-like things, with the violin. He is not an experienced actor, yet he does fine in the role, and this movie could not have been realistically made without someone of his caliber. When we see him playing famous, complex Paganini compositions, we see Garrett playing them himself. I am a musician, my father was a violinist, it makes a difference to have a real virtuoso musician in the role.In this fictional story, early in his performance career, Paganini receives a lukewarm reception from a crude crowd, who would rather hear his barnyard composition. But he meets Jared Harris as Urbani, wearing a black cape with red accents, he looks and feels like the dEVIL. He makes a pact with Paganini, he will serve him and help make him famous if he will agree to serve Urbani after he dies. (In a later scene Urbani says he is not the dEVIL but works for him.) The other nice touch is young American operatic singer Andrea Deck as Charlotte Watson, the young lady Paganini falls in love with in London as he stays as her father's house guest.I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, especially the music. There is a great lull as the story is established, up until about 54 minutes, but then there is a great scene where Paganini is in a hostile pub in London, then he mesmerizes everyone with his playing. Then around 1:12 to around 1:24 more music at the concert in London.I know this is a fictional story built on the real Paganini, but it is a great glimpse into who this violin master might have been.

whitesalamander To cop to another reviewer's judgement of me as a "pinhead" I loved this movie because: 1. I had never heard of David Garret and became more mesmerised by his violin playing the longer the movie lasted. 2. Mr. Garrett does not deserve an Oscar for his acting abilities but he deserves my praise and much praise from others for his musical performances in the movie. 3. I was deeply moved and inspired by his abilities to make the violin sing to me. 4. I know the movie is not a definitive historical work but it paints a broad enough brush for non-experts like to enjoy a long lasting "buzz" from the dazzling violin performance of Mr. Garrett.In fact I spent some time on YouTube enjoying several other performances of Mr. Garrett. So this "pinhead" is now a die hard fan of the movie, Mr. Garrett and his supporting cast. I appreciate all of the hard work and effort that the writers, producers, directors and performers put into this lovely work. This "pinhead" can appreciate criticism of the movie but the bitter, vitriol and ad hominem attack upon the people who worked hard to create is way overkill. The Devil's Violinist is not perfect but it certainly is "good enough."

enekaith Please, if you are one of those that won't watch a movie simply because it has bad reviews, DON'T watch this. This movie had dimension and a great backstory that most people seemed not to notice. Well, the synopsis covered everything, all the roles were well played except for the lead role himself, Niccolo, but that is passable since he did not have a lot of lines.I got mashed up at a point during the movie when the reporter got jealous, then I got the plan. The mastermind behind this entire movie is Urbani!!!! That is what should have been standing out to those viewers who just look at the superficial and physical. If anything, try looking at Urbani as the devil in this movie. He freaking asked for Niccolo's soul to be signed to him for the afterlife at the beginning of the movie. That alone got me hooked to see if Niccolo could get his soul back, maybe through the pure love Charlotte had for him. He was foolish though, and Urbani made sure he died not at a ripe and old age by encouraging him in acts of drugs and sex and using it as an avenue to spike his 'medication'. That was ANOTHER critical minor detail that should get all the viewer's attention.Other characters in this movie did well, Urbani brought everything together with all the snide comments he made at all Niccolo's outbursts. Another big clue!!! All i have to say is if you end up watching the movie, keep a close attention on all Urbani's words, lines, actions, behaviour, etc, and the movie will make more sense.At the end of the movie, it was written in German that Paganini's body was not allowed to be buried in 'consecrated ground', now if that doesn't tell you what happened to Paganin's soul, I don't know what will.I liked the movie, but its not something that's worth multiple views.