8/3/2019 Amadeus Movie Review

1/2

Escota, April Ivy T.BSA 1-20D

Movie Review

AMADEUS is a drama biopic directed by Milos Forman and written by Peter Shaffer.The tale is based on the lives of two composers who lived in 18 th century Vienna,Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. With: F. Murray Abraham (AntonioSalieri), Tom Hulce (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), Elizabeth Berridge (ConstanzeMozart), Roy Dotrice (Leopold Mozart), Simon Callow (Emanuel Schikaneder /Papageno), Richard Frank (Father Vogler), Christine Ebersole (Katerina Cavalieri) andJefrey Jones (Emperor Joseph II).

Antonio Salieri believes that Mozart's music is divine. He wishes he was himself asgood a musician as Mozart so that he can honor the Lord through composing. But hecan't comprehend why God favored Mozart, such a vulgar creature, to be his

instrument. Salieri's resentment has made him a foe of God whose greatness wasunmistakable in Mozart. He is set to take vengeance. Witness Mozarts life from thetime Salieri had met him and killed him. Be amazed by the greatness of genius Mozartsmusic and his mad and passionate life.

The movie begins in an insane haven in the 1820s, where Salieri has been placed. Hewas confronted by a priest to confess. He tells the story of how he met Mozart as a childin Vienna and how he murdered him. From the start, Salieri was covetous of Mozartbecause of his prodigious musical talent, which Salieri is certain by far surpass his ownability, despite his immense accomplishment. Salieri also becomes irritated by Mozart'schildish behavior, wondering why God would bestow such a perverted young man with

such incredible musical talent. He then vows to get even with God by slaughteringMozart. First, Salieri uses his power in the royal court to rob Mozart of as much fame aspossible. The royal court doesn't appreciate Mozart's music, complaining that it has "toomany notes", with Salieri backing them up, despite the fact that he secretly admires hismusic extremely. Then, soon after the death of Mozarts father, Salieri disguises himselfwith a black double-face mask the father wore at a party which frightens Mozart. Salieritells him to compose a death requiem promising to pay a huge sum of money when itsfinished. Mozart obliges, but ends up dying because of so much exhaustion and poorbecause of his wife and child leaving, poverty and the pressure Salieri is putting on him.And the death requiem wasnt completed. Mozart was taken out of Vienna and wasburied in a horrible way and place.

Amadeus is a great movie, full with many of Mozarts most beautiful pieces focusingmore on his operas than his symphonies. Scenes were shot in Vienna, in and aroundPrague which made it superbly authentic. Mr. Forman directs perhaps his greatest film.But the greatest factor in this film is Mr. Schaeffers telling the story of Mozarts throughSalieris madness. Whether the story is true or not, I dont know. But movie is in a waynot centrally focused on Mozart but Salieris personal grudge with God which is a failingof the movie if they really are trying to tell who really Mozart is unlike in Immortal

8/3/2019 Amadeus Movie Review

2/2

Beloved. Although Mozarts brilliance is showed through Salieris story, I dont like thefact that the movie somewhat stains, degrades Mozarts reputation. Tom Hulceexecuted the character very well making me feel that Mozart is unworthy of his talentbecause of his ridiculousness and ignorance taking for granted the gift of God to him.The music in this film exceeded my expectations and the transitions were clever. Some

parts of the movie though is boring.

Even though I criticized it a little I cannot say it is a great film or not. I still like ImmortalBeloved better than Amadeus. Because in the movie of Beethoven I was carried awayby heavy emotions and the splendid music but in Amadeus I bored and just felt likedisappointed of what it made us see. It didnt bring us to sympathy on Mozart butinstead made us see an unworthy musician and a vulgar indeed, and that are an insultto the music. Amadeus, for me as an enthusiast of Mozart, is insulting and is making hisreputation look very bad indeed. All in all I conclude that I dont like the movie verymuch. I just enjoyed the visuals and Mozarts music in there.