Amadeus (1984) (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

While I have always appreciated classical music, I always prefer to listen to rock stations while driving. While I love movies of all kinds, the period drama has never exactly been my favorite genre. I've never really been a fan of theater or opera either. So how did Amadeus, a movie that combines all of these things, become one of my favorite films? Directed by Milos Forman (director of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"), Amadeus is a comedy-drama based on a 1979 play of the same name (which itself is a variation of an earlier play). Unlike most movies of this kind, the story of Amadeus is based on rumors and urban legends surrounding the life and death of the great composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in particular the rumor that he was murdered by rival musician Antonio Salieri. The story is not historically accurate but makes no attempt to be, something to keep in mind while watching. Like Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, Amadeus is simply using history as a backdrop for a fictional story.As a child, Antonio Salieri begged God for a chance to be a composer, promising to dedicate his entire life to music in return. When his prayers are answered, Salieri keeps his promise. Years later, after becoming court composer for the Holy Roman Emperor, Salieri finally meets the man who's success had inspired him and made him the man he is; Mozart. But the man he meets is far from what he expected. As it turns out, the great Mozart is a childish, arrogant, and extremely unprofessional man. Feeling that the God he had dedicated his life to had betrayed him by choosing someone like Mozart as his instrument, Salieri dedicates his life to ruining Mozart's career which, by extension, will mean triumphing over God himself.The story of Amadeus is absolutely brilliant, and one of the greatest I have ever seen in film. The way the film seamlessly blends comedy and drama while telling the story of these two great men is incredible. The pacing and writing are both flawless and there is not a single moment where I am bored. The cinematography and sets are both fantastic, especially when portions of Mozart's operas are shown. The soundtrack is among the greatest I have ever heard in a movie, although this is hardly surprising considering it consists entirely of Mozart and Salieri's work. The music isn't just tossed into scenes carelessly either, it always suits the scene and mood perfectly. Tom Hulce is great as the obnoxious yet brilliant Mozart. Hulce did an excellent job of showing Mozart's transformation from carefree rockstar to overstressed and on the verge of madness. The supporting cast was great as well, in particular Jeffery Jones as the musically ignorant Emperor. However, the real show-stealer is F. Murray Abraham as Antonio Salieri. Abraham's performance remains the greatest I have ever seen in a film. He plays the character so well that I kept forgetting he was acting. Like Gregory Peck's role as Atticus Finch or Robert De Niro's role as Travis Bickle, this is a character that nobody but Abraham could have played.The film looks fantastic on blu-ray, and I had no problems while watching it. Like many other people have said, I was disappointed that the original cut of the film could not be watched. I have only seen the director's cut and I would have liked to see the original version. Personally I think the pacing is great even with the extra scenes, so this is a minor issue for me, but it is still disappointing. I haven't watched the "Making of Amadeus" documentary yet but I look forward to when I get the chance. I was hoping to see some behind the scenes extras and interviews, but I assume they are all included in the documentary. I will update this review once I have watched the documentary.Amadeus is an absolute masterpiece that more people need to see and at such a low price, there's no excuse. Of course not everyone will love it, but Amadeus is one of those films that every movie fan needs to see at least once.

`Amadeus' was one of the most refreshing spectacles I have had the pleasure of witnessing in quite some time. I was personally blown away with what I was presented with and have thus concluded `Amadeus' to be one of the best motion pictures in the history of motion pictures. If you have not had the privilege of witnessing this powerful film then please, stop everything you are doing and track this movie down, order it straight from this webpage if you need to, but please watch this movie immediately. I don't think I've been this passionate about a single film since I saw `The Godfather' for the first time. Truly all the praise and admiration that has been associated with this masterclass of a film is well warranted. `Amadeus' is astounding from start to finish, a truly mesmerizing and utterly flawless production. Milos Forman is God; seriously.As the film opens we meet Antonio Salieri, a man gone crazy. He is living in an asylum and claims to have murdered Mozart. In the opening scenes of the film Salieri is met by a priest who wants to hear his story and so Salieri proceeds to tell him how it was that he came to meet, grow to despise and eventually kill Mozart.Antonio Salieri was an aspiring composer who has reached a certain level of fame as court composer to Emperor Joseph II but he has achieved nothing in comparison to the fame and recognition as the esteemed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Salieri himself feels that Mozart's music is divine, something sent from God above (kind of the way I feel about this movie) but when he has the chance to finally meet this messenger of God he is let down. Mozart is not the noble gentlemen he had expected but instead is a pompous arrogant vile thing that sends shivers down Salieri's spine.How could God use this disgusting man in such a beautiful and miraculous way?It becomes apparent that the Emperor is smitten with Mozart's talent though and this bothers Salieri, not to mention others close to the Emperor. Salieri then decides that he is to make it his life goal to destroy Mozart, to strip him of his power and social standing and ruin him, yes, kill him. He concocts a plan all his own to accomplish this and sets it all in motion, waiting for the time to be right to strike and make his dreams come true.`Amadeus', as I mentioned earlier, is perfect. I seriously cannot find a single flaw. The script is deliciously absorbing and never loses the interest of its audience. The direction is nothing short of phenomenal and the acting across the board is superb. The two leads are brilliant. F. Murray Abraham, who won the Oscar for his performance, captures the very dire frustration and conflicting emotions that drives Salieri to madness and Tom Hulce (who should have won the Oscar in my humble opinion) dominates as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, completely fleshing out his talent as well as the demons that choked out the flame that was his life. Elizabeth Berridge was sorely robbed of an Oscar nomination. Her portrayal of Mozart's doting wife Constanze is brilliantly crafted and expertly executed.The only word I can use to describe this film is ecstasy; pure, unbridled ecstasy. Since seeing this film I've thought of nothing else and have a feeling that I will think of nothing else for quite a while still to come. Please, I beg of you, experience this film for yourself. You will not regret it.Consider me entertained.