Review of Amadeus (1984) by Danny R — 09 Dec 2011
A remarkable movie biography of the 18th century musical genius Wolf Amadeus Mozart. A lavishly mounted and visually stunning screen version of the award winning Broadway hit, about the musical prodigy Mozart was expanded and restructured by playwright Peter Sahaffer and the film's director Milos Forman.
It concerns the envious court composer Antonio Salieri, who so appreciated Mozart's genius that it made him insanely jealous of the younger rival compomser's extraordinary talents, the script gives us a thought-provoking premise could Salieri 's mad jealously somehow have led to Mozart's mysterious death at the age of 35? Marvelously directed by Milos Forman with magnificent performances from a hand-picked cast especially from F.
Murray Abraham in his powerful, virtuoso Oscar winning turn as the aging, guilt-ridden Salieri and Tom Hulce's wonderfully controlled artful Oscar nominated performance as the gifted but childish and totally undisciplined Mozart, there is also great supporting turns from Jeffery Jones as Emperor Joseph II, Elizabeth Berridge as Constance, Mozart's wife, and Roy Dotrice as Leopold Mozart's father.
Among the film's glories are the many passages of Mozart's immortal sublime music and the intensely elegant cinematography by Miroslav Ondricek, beautifully filmed on location in Czechoslovakia.
"Amadeus" is a wonder to behold for both the eyes and the ears. Winner of 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director: Milos Forman, Best Actor: F. Murray Abraham, Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: Peter Shaffer.
Highly Recommended.
This review of Amadeus (1984) was written by Danny R on 09 Dec 2011.
Amadeus has generally received very positive reviews.
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