Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Normally you couldn’t have convinced me to watch a movie about a composer; but with a promise from my parents that it would be funny and the bonus of Animal House actor Tom Hulce, I was willing to give it a try. Amadeus was nominated for 53 awards and received 40, including the Academy Award for Best Picture.
The Analysis:
This movie is told as flashbacks narrated from an old and forgotten composer, Antonio Salieri, telling his story to a young priest, Father Volger. Salieri longed to be a famous composer from a young age, despite his father’s disapproval. When his father suddenly died, he took it as a sign from God and devoted himself fully to his faith and his music. A few years into his moderately successful career, a young and extremely talented composer named Mozart comes along and Salieri is both amazed by his talent and disgusted by his immaturity and vulgar behavior.
The movie is a biographical drama, with many elements based in fact. The narration from a once famous and now little known fellow composer is a great technique. We learn about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through the eyes of someone who understands the craft but can not quite master it in the same way. Disclaimer: this movie is not for everyone. There were several long stretches of opera scenes and the movie is arguably a bit too long at nearly 3 hours. However, I would still say that the film is worth it for someone who can put up with some added length. Amadeus is a high quality film about one of the most well known composers of all time and the man he constantly overshadowed. I recommend it for those who enjoy history, period pieces, or music.
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