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Plot Summary
Nominated for eleven Academy Awards and winner of eight, including Best Picture, Director and Actor, this lavish story, based upon a Viennese urban legend and hit Broadway play, recounts the downfall of 18th-century musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as orchestrated by his nemesis, the less talented but politically favored Antonin Salieri. Starring Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham ("Thirteen Ghosts," "Finding Forrester"), Academy Award-nominee Tom Hulce ("Frankenstein," "Fearless"), Simon Callow ("Notting Hill," "Shakespeare in Love"), Golden Globe-nominated Jeffrey Jones ("Sleepy Hollow," "The Devil's Advocate") and Elizabeth Berridge (TV's "The John Larroquette Show"). Directed by Oscar-winner Milos Forman ("Man on the Moon," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest").
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Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
95%- Reviews Counted: 79
- Fresh: 75
- Rotten: 4
- Average Rating: 8.6/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: As Mozart, Tom Hulce, though extremely American in looks and voice, gets better and better as the drama progresses.
Fresh: A grand movie entertainment.
Fresh: On a production level and as an evocation of a time and place, Amadeus is loaded with pleasures.
Fresh: It's got more music, more drama, more of what made it a big winner with audiences and critics 18 years ago.
Customer Reviews
I prefer the original release
Amadeus is a brilliant movie, and those who quite rightly point out the historical inaccuracies and therefore dislike the movie miss the metaphorical point. They really need to accept the fact that this story is fictionalized and ignore the potential misapprehension of other viewers. Regardless, however, I much prefer the original theatrical release to the director's cut. They're really different movies. In the original release, the story plays out as a battle between Salieri and God, with Mozart being the battleground, or the pawn, or whatever, even if the battle was really only in Salieri's mind (an important caveat often missed by critics -- despite obvious fact that Salieri tells his story while a patient in an insane asylum). The addition of several deleted scenes to the director's cut -- Mozart's alcoholism, unfortunate teaching experience, etc. -- greatly dilutes the focus on Salieri and God and gives too much weight to Mozart's misfortunes, to some detriment to the movie. IMO, the director's cut is worth watching only if you're already familiar with the original release.
Possibly the Best Movie Ever
It is impossible to describe Amadeus. Like Shakespeare In Love, it is totally inaccurate, but it takes the genius of Mozart and amplifies it and gives it such humanity, understanding, and compassion. This movie will terrify you, astound you, make you laugh, and make you cry. Peter Schaffer has a wonderful ear for music, and his under standing of humanity as well as Mozarts music makes for an astounding treat--even if you don't like classical music (and you will by the end of this movie). The poruing of MOzart's music to fit the mood, the plt, character, and setting was all indescribable, and I haven't even started on the acting. Abraham, as Salieri, will frighten you as the old, emaciated man with a mad jealosy of Mozart, yet a seething, reluctant worship of his music. And Tom Hulce is the perfect comic foil for Abraham's dramatic power, but as the movie progresses, his dramatic side comes out and is expressed so well it is impossible to describe it. They were both nominated for Best Actor, and there was a fight over who really was the main character: Mozart or Salierei, but you will come out understanding the Academy's decision. Do yourself a huge favor--watch this movie! You come out with a greater undertanding of humantiy and classical music (so you'll generally look smarter) and have a wonderful time doing it!
Brilliant!
I first say this movie when I was six years old, and after could not take my mind off it. I had to watch it almost every day. And it is still by far the most amazing movie i have ever and will ever see. After watching this movie it literally "lives on" inside you. Nothing in it disappoints, the acting, the plot, the suspence, the love, the music. This is a brilliant, amazing classic that you will never forget!
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- $17.99
- Genre: Drama
- Released: 1984
- © 1984 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.