Amadeus DVD
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Amadeus DVD > Reviews > Brilliant Portrayal

Production Year: 1984 - Drama - Director: Milos Forman - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance

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In a lavish 18th Century parlor in Austria, an elderly man is found, by his servant, with his throat slashed. The wound is self-inflicted, and the man is the little-known composer...
more...Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), contemporary and adversary of the now-famed, but once reviled, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce). Later. from his cell in an insane asylum, Salieri tells a priest (Herman Meckler) the story of his association with Mozart, confessing that he actually killed the brilliantly gifted but troubled young man. Based on the award-winning play by Peter Shaffer, Milos Forman's riveting, brilliant, Oscar-winning AMADEUS is a fictionalized account of the real-life mysterious death of Mozart. Abraham, in the role that won him the Best Actor Oscar, is the celebrated court composer to Joseph II (Jeffrey Jones)--his confidence and religious dedication shaken when he meets the boorish 26-year-old Mozart as he chases his future wife (Elizabeth Berridge) around a party while making obscene remarks. Furious that this clownish boy can produce such beautiful music, Salieri determines to keep Mozart's talent from lasting recognition and sets himself on a course for Mozart's destruction that leads to his own as well. Mozart continues to mount beautiful, moving operas (incredibly staged in the film), but becomes obsessed with writing a Requiem as his friends, family, health, and resources waste away, Salieri's manipulating presence always there. In a lavish 18th Century parlour in Austria, an elderly man is found, by his servant, with his throat slashed. The wound is self-inflicted, and the man is the little-known composer Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), contemporary and adversary of the now-famed, but once reviled, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce). Later. from his cell in an insane asylum, Salieri tells a priest (Herman Meckler) the story of his association with Mozart, confessing that he actually killed the brilliantly gifted but troubled young man.
Based on the award-winning play by Peter Shaffer (writer of SLEUTH and THE WICKER MAN), director Milos Forman's riveting, brilliant, Oscar-winning AMADEUS is a fictionalized account of the real-life mysterious death of Mozart. Abraham, in the role that won him the Best Actor Oscar, is the celebrated court composer to Joseph II (Jeffrey Jones)--his confidence and religious dedication shaken when he meets the boorish 26-year-old Mozart as he chases his future wife (Elizabeth Berridge) around a party while making obscene remarks. Furious that this clownish boy can produce such beautiful music, Salieri determines to keep Mozart's talent from lasting recognition and sets himself on a course for Mozart's destruction that leads to his own as well. Mozart continues to mount beautiful, moving operas (incredibly staged in the film), but becomes obsessed with writing a Requiem as his friends, family, health, and resources waste away, Salieri's manipulating presence always there. It is hard to imagine anyone--whether they are knowledgeable about classical music or not--who would not be held captive by this superb feast for the eyes and ears, a film whose excellence can be felt in every detail.





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Brilliant Portrayal
A review by jonwhite on Amadeus DVD
October 16th, 2000


Author's product rating:   Amadeus DVD - rated by jonwhite

Did you enjoy it? Loved it 
Story Outstanding 
Characters / Performances Good 
Special Effects Unmemorable 
How does it compare to similar films? Good 

Advantages: superb musical score, 8 academy awards, well acted
Disadvantages: None

Recommend to potential buyers: yes 

Full review
I loved this film. It is a gripping drama about the life and works of Mozart. If you are a Mozart fan then you will love this film. It is a great celebration of the talented composers music. Set in 1781 it follows the life of the composor from childhood to his death.

A memorable soundtrack accompanies the film throughout and the acting quality is superb

Released in 1984 this film won eight academy awards including best picture, best actor and best director and it is easy to see how.

Rated as a PG this is one film not to be missed.

The DVD release is a little thin on 'extras' but it does have a Music-Only option so you can enjoy the compositions of this great man without the need to watch the film.
 
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Soundtrack Outstanding 
How does it compare to others by the same director? Good 
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Amadeus [1985]
The satirical sensibilities of writer Peter Shaffer and director Milos Forman (One Flew ... more
over the Cuckoo's Nest) were ideally matched in
this Oscar-winning movie adaptation of Shaffer's
hit play about the rivalry between two composers
in the court of Au...
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Amadeus [1985]
The satirical sensibilities of writer Peter Shaffer and director Milos Forman (One Flew ... more
over the Cuckoo's Nest) were ideally matched in
this Oscar-winning movie adaptation of Shaffer's
hit play about the rivalry between two composers
in the court of Au...
£ 3.98 Amazon.co.uk

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