Amadeus




I am a vulgar man! But I assure you, my music is not.

Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) is an 18th century music composer who has the one wish of becoming a great composer. He goes so far as to asking God himself for this, and he attains a certain degree of success. However, his works are overshadowed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce), who begins to compose in Vienna alongside him. Salieri can't understand why God would give such an arrogant and vulgar man the gifts that he had asked for. So he sets about a plot of revenge against both God and Mozart. The story is told some thirty years later when Salieri is in an asylum and he recounts the events in flashbacks.

While the events in this movie are not all historically accurate, they make for an interesting story. To many people Mozart is merely a name associated with the high end of musical society. The beauty of this movie is in the abundant ironies. We find that the genius is actually a childish, obscenly conceited brat with the funniest laugh ever put to film. In fact, Amadeus is at its best when Mozart is at his juvenile worst. Unfortunately the laughs pitter out somewhat, and the second half of the movie can't match the humor of the first.

The best and most well known of Mozart's music is on display. Even people that don't normally hold a taste for classical music can find it appealing. From the immediately recognizable Eine Kleine Nachmusik to Don Giovanni, the creators tastefully put together quite a list.

The movie revolves around Salieri and his glowering envy towards Mozart and his growing list of accomplishments. Soon he begins to become "infected" with the same madness as Mozart. Ironically it is because of his envy that he is one of the few who can truly appreciate Mozart's music to the fullest.

This movie is great because it isn't expected to be. It is expected to be a dull biopic about a genius composer. It is nearly the opposite, trading facts and accuracy for humor and drama. It succeeds on nearly all levels. The sets, costumes and designs perfectly embody the times and mood. The one hindrance is its length. While no doubt carefully calculated, it does tend to be slightly top heavy.

Several spectacular performances help to make this what it is as well. Abraham brings complexity and something almost like dual egos to Salieri, earning every ounce of his Oscar. Tom Hulce brings a very different sort of life to the immature Mozart. Though his overstated characteristics are easy to pick up on, he also brings out the good parts that could have been easily overlooked. Elizabeth Berridge is also excellent as Constanze, Mozart's wife. She is just as playful as he is, but she gives her character an underlying strength and dignity that Mozart lacks.

This is a great film that is as entertaining as it is touching.



-The Gnome