Amadeus (1984)

Strong and Moving!

One of the best films i have seen

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Too many bangs! Well, they don't come any better these days. Did the camera ever capture such ephemeral emotions, or did it switch to CG... well folks, this movie has too much of impossible positives, and the world can only handle so much (believe me, or read your newspaper). I'll proceed chronologically... gluttony succeeded by deflation, innocence succeeded by truth, and, guilt succeeded by absolution. Imagine a magician of colors playing to an audience of the colorblind but one. Imagine a gossamer apparatus touched by the imperfect. How does one restore back the magic? Perhaps the perfect can only come out of the imperfect. Mayhap our enemy only waits for us to spread our arms. Some things can't be undone, but some things are just meant to be. Oh a world with the focus of the protagonist and the disdain of the mundane! Listen to this 'film' if you can't watch it enough now and then.

Among the other wonderful films of Milos Forman, "Amadeus" reigns supreme. It is a masterpiece of the highest caliber, a film that flows like a gentle stream on a midsummer's eve as angels dance in the softly moonlit sky. It also has fart jokes. There is not a moment that feels unnecessary or tedious, there is nothing to add or subtract as this film is, like the finest of Mozart's operas, a pitch perfect masterpiece. The performances are astonishing and often humorous, the script is filled with wit and intrigue, the cinematography is astounding, dropping the viewer in the middle of the 18th century in a manner that is enjoyable for the most modern of audiences, and the music is, of course, brilliant. Brilliant, brilliant, BRILLIANT!-a word that describes this film with total accuracy. It is not only a brilliant film, it is a brilliant film about brilliant people, and the entire concept of brilliance itself. It is a celebration of one of the most brilliant artists ever to grace the world, and it captures his struggles, triumphs, comedies, and tragedies in a manner that is no less than BRILLIANT!

As an Mozart-admiring and yet hate and jealousy filled composer, Salieri seems to be a compelling vessel for telling us about Mozart's ingenuity - as well as his flaws. But I hope audiences realize that almost everything in this movie regarding the relationship between Mozart and Saliery is simply made up. I enjoyed the realistic depiction of the life in Vienna during that time. Also, the movie partially grants an idea of what Mozart's personality really could have been like. But the whole plot is just a fantasy of Salieri (at least the movie version of Salieri, who is plagued by feelings of guilt, jealousy and self-awareness). Should one take it metaphorically? Mozart's struggle between life and art killed him despite being one of the greatest talents. While Salieri had to outlive him despite not coming close to this genius and being fully aware of it. It's like god's punishment for movie-Salieri.So, one has to keep in mind that this movie has actually only one historical inaccuracy: Salieri telling such a story in real life. The rest is an interesting fantasy.

Amadeus, despite its title, is really not about Mozart. It is about Salieri, who is the court composer for the Austrian emperor and witnesses Mozart's rise from child prodigy to child-like adult. Salieri wants nothing more than to compose beautiful music, but instead his own mediocrity is made all the more apparent when contrasted to the seemingly divine talent of the impish Wolfgang, which irritates him to no end. Salieri's feelings of inadequacy resonate with anyone who has badly wanted a talent for themselves only to see it "wasted" on someone else who didn't appreciate it.The movie itself is beautiful in every degree- costumes, set, direction, and especially orchestration. With a soundtrack that is almost completely written by Mozart himself and which helps to guide the film, no other score can come close and the entire spectacle is a treat from start to finish. Though some complain about the lack of realism and introduction of fantasy into the events surrounding Mozart and Salieri, that should not be a deterrent. If you want strict accuracy then watch a documentary or read a book. This movie is meant to entertain, and entertain it does. This is a must see for any film buff, lover of classical music, or for anyone who has ever labored in the shadow of true genius.