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Amadeus

Based on the homonymous play by Peter Shaffer, Milos Forman’s film doesn’t suffer from the same symptoms that plague several transpositions from stage to film.

The terrific adaptation is the first thing to notice in this film, rather than just pack the scenes with dialogue, Forman and Shaffer deliver a perfect piece for its format, leaving the story to be told by the images rather than the words.

The movie, for those who may not know, tells the life story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the immortal Austrian compositor, but more than just tell the story of a genius, the film transforms Mozart in a human being, contradictorily retracting him as a childish, insolent brat, and that is probably what makes the movie so enchanting.

We hear the story through the words of Antonio Salieri, an Italian composer, famous and talented enough to be the eminent Compositor of the Austrian Court, but unable to compete with the geniality of Mozart.

Right in the opening scene, Salieri suggests to be Mozart’s murder. Taken to a madhouse, he tells the entire story to a Priest during a confession, narrating how he always admired Mozart, the boy wonder, and how that admiration soon turned to hate when Mozart arrived in Vienna and began to menace Salieri’s prestige.

Even though Mozart’s behavior gives a comedy likeness to the movie, it is indubitably a tragedy and discusses about how someone’s talent can be choked and ruined by mediocre people in higher positions.

Mozart was a man ahead of his time; this can clearly be seen in all his characterization, from his behavior to his wigs and costumes. Mozart suffers because of that, with everyone’s envy and intolerance to deal with someone who can accent on them, effortless.

The movie’s soundtrack is obviously outstanding. But more than just use Mozart’s compositions, Forman builds the movie through them as he cleverly suggests Mozart’s inspiration to write the music.

Amadeus was the great winner of the 1985 Academy Awards, prized with eight Oscars, including Best Picture. F. Murray Abraham (Salieri) and Tom Hulce (Mozart) were both nominated as Best Actor, but at least this time Salieri stood out against Mozart and Abraham was awarded with the statuette.

Amadeus is not only a praise for the eyes and the ears, it is also a magnificent story about someone who, as the word “Amadeus” means, is loved by God and praised forever while others need to contend with the forgetfulness.

Written by: Edward Olivier

Reviewers Rating: 9.5
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