loading...
Amadeus
1984
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 Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), contemporary and adversary of the now-famed, but once reviled, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce). Later. from .. Read more
| Starring | F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow |
|---|---|
| Director | Milos Forman |
| Genres | Drama, Music/Musical |
loading...
Amadeus
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 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.
| Starring | F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow, Roy Dotrice |
|---|---|
| Director | Milos Forman |
| Studio | WARNER HOME VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 33 mins Blu-ray: 2 hrs 53 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, Music/Musical |
| Language | English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | Arabic, English |
| Released | DVD: 01 Dec 1998 Blu-ray: 16 Feb 2009 Production year: 1984 |
| Format | DVD |
Amadeus (1984)
-
Critics' reviews (5)
View all -
The winner of eight Oscars and an unexpected box-office smash, Amadeus is simply one of the finest biographical dramas ever made. Reworked rather than simply adapted by Peter Shaffer from his own hit play, the film is as much about the mediocrity and envy of the composer Antonio Salieri as it is about the eccentric genius of his rival Mozart. There is, therefore, a sort of poetic justice in the fact that F Murray Abraham — for those with an interest in biographical minutiae, the “F” stands for Fahrid — pipped Tom Hulce for the best actor award. But surely Jeffrey Jones deserved a nod for his delightful portrayal of Emperor Joseph II? Returning to Prague (standing in for Vienna) for the first time since the Soviet invasion in 1968, director Milos Forman and his regular cinematographer Miroslav Ondricek revel in the beauty of the city, but credit must also go to Patrizia von Brandenstein for her superb sets and inspired choice of location interiors. As one would expect, the music is majestic, thanks largely to Neville Marriner's outstanding interpretation of everything from gypsy dances to Don Giovanni.
-
A musical legend performed with success and economy on stage now becomes an exciting baroque film, like an opera in high-pitched dialogue. Great to look at, and only the American accents jar the ear.
-
Most helpful member's review
View all -
19 out of 23 people found this review helpful
Magical Stuff
Anyone wanting an accurate historical account of the life of Mozart please look away now! What we have instead is a screenplay version of Peter Shaeffer's stage piece which exaggerates, for dramtic effect, the rivalry between Mozart and the less gifted but powerful court composer, Antonio Salieri. However, what this movie lacks in historical accuracy it gains in the superb performances of Tom Hulce as the boy genius and F.Murray Abraham in his career defining, oscar winning role. The movie is a sheer joy from start to finish and you won't fail to get drawn into wonderful period feeling of eighteenth century Vienna (even though most of the shooting is actually Prague!). Don't worry if you don't like classical music too much as the story is a more than strong enough experience to stand as a great drama on it's own. However, if you do like Mozarts music then the whole experience is lifted to another level with the excellect contribution of Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St.Martin in the Fields. All in all superb, thoughtful, entertainment.
-
Most recent members' review
View all -
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Flawless ... almost!
If it wasn't for the fact that historically this adaptation is nonsense then I would have to say that this is one of the best movies of all time. Great acting, particuarly from F.Murray Abraham and sublime music from old Wolfgang put this in a league of it's own. Even if you don't tend to like classical music it's still worth a viewing for the performances and the story it tells (and the views of Prague - not Vienna/Salzburg!) RENT IT!
-
News and features
View all
Bardem goes for cholera
- 17 Feb 2006
Spanish actor Javier Bardem has signed up to star in the movie Love In The Time Of Cholera. Bardem, who featured in Before Night Falls, The Sea Inside and Between Your Legs, will be directed by Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco, Four Weddings And A Funeral) in the adaptation of the Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The screenplay will be written by Ronald Harwood (Oliver Twist, The Pianist). Love In The Time Of Cholera tells the story of a man who devotes his life to... Read more
-
More like this
View all
Related user collection
Academy Award Winners: Best Picture (79)
91.4% from 15 members
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
-
-
- Amadeus - BLU-RAY Version
- Blu-Ray: £10.53
Free Delivery - RRP £19.79 (you save: 47%)
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 Salieri (F. Murray ... -
-
-
-
Amadeus
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 Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), contemporary and adversary of the now-famed, but once reviled, composer Wolfgang Amadeus ...
-