
1830. Violin virtuoso and notorious womanizer Niccolò Paganini (David Garrett) is at the peak of his career, acclaimed throughout Europe. His name alone suggests countless affairs and scandals - which is exactly what his manager Urbani (Jared Harris) is doing his utmost to cultivate, for it is in his interest to market his famous client the best way possible. Only the London public has yet to be conquered. In a plan to lure Paganini to London for his British debut, English i... (Full plot summary below)
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1830. Violin virtuoso and notorious womanizer Niccolò Paganini (David Garrett) is at the peak of his career, acclaimed throughout Europe. His name alone suggests countless affairs and scandals - which is exactly what his manager Urbani (Jared Harris) is doing his utmost to cultivate, for it is in his interest to market his famous client the best way possible. Only the London public has yet to be conquered. In a plan to lure Paganini to London for his British debut, English impresario John Watson (Christian McKay) and his mistress Elisabeth Wells (Veronica Ferres) risk all they own. Business-savvy Urbani ultimately manages to bring Paganini to the British capital, albeit against his will. And thanks to the rave reviews by journalist Ethel Langham (Joely Richardson), Urbani's strategy seems to be working better than he imagined. Protestors throng his hotel, causing pandemonium. Musician and manager are forced to take refuge at Watson's home, where Paganini quickly takes a liking to his host's lovely daughter Charlotte (Andrea Deck), a talented singer. She and the violinist find the way to each other's hearts through music - and Paganini falls undyingly in love with the young beauty. This displeases Urbani, however, who fears he will lose his influence on his protegé. He begins to craft a diabolical plan...
Leave your thoughts about The Devil's Violinist.
| Flick FilosopherMaryAnn JohansonA hilariously histrionic depiction of 19th-century superstar violinist Niccolò Paganini's rise to fame, far more Monty Python than Mozart. |
| FILMINK (Australia)John NoonanPotentially there is a portrait of the artist in crisis buried beneath all the histrionics and parables. As it is, The Devil's Violinist is simply tone deaf. |
| Epoch TimesJoe BendelViolin prodigy and classical crossover artist David Garrett can certainly play. Acting is a little iffier. |
| Los Angeles TimesSheri LindenFirst-time actor Garrett is better at conveying Paganini's artistic sensitivity and self-indulgence than his innovative fire. When he picks up the fiddle, though, he speaks with eloquent authority. |
| Film Journal InternationalDavid NohThe latest classical-music legend to have his life trashed-again-by a cheaply sensationalistic movie, this famed fiddler deserved way better. |
| User ReviewMarcus HExcellent movie- for those of us unfamiliar with Paganini this is a great representation of his life, music, and impact on violin performances. Even if it's not too authentic, David Garrett's performance is fun to watch. :) He's actually playing the music in the movie... |
| User ReviewNorm dThese ratings are ridiculously low. The stage duet with Andrea Deck and David Garrett - two amazing talents doing their own performances - is worth the price of a cineplex movie ticket. And the story, a biopic, undoubtably manipulated with composite elements, is interestingly realized, especially the incarnation of any demons from which Paganini might have suffered, along with genius. Bravo. |
| User ReviewCarlos MOnly a good good good musician has to play this character, Paganini was and would be the best as Garrett is OUR Paganini of our times.... I believe any virtuoso gets inspired while playing and they are not themselves while performing, nothing more to say, David Garrett played very well his role as been possessed and to play his own life as a virtuoso. |
| User ReviewKathy LI give it 4 just for the fabulous soundtrack. |
| User ReviewCristina OThe music is just breathtaking, the story is weird and for what I've read it's somewhat far from the truth but it's really interesting and well done |