my number one

Rating: 10/10 (23 January 2004)

Now, this is my idea of a movie - spectacle, religion, sex, envy, and some of the most stirring music ever composed. And it all seems so modern; a bad visit from Mozart's father is awkward in the same way as a bad visit with my own parents! Here's a film that makes ancient history seem like yesterday, using the same trick employed by all classic films - solid characterization.
It's a shame that so many of these actors never did much else, but maybe that's a blessing in disguise because it allows them to embody their characters without other movie associations getting in the audience's way.
I was worried that the extended edition would hurt the film's pacing (most extended editions are a bad idea - the material was cut for a reason!). But in fact, all of the restored scenes are excellent. I should have expected no less! Beautiful costumes, beautiful locations, beautiful everything...very fittingly, "Amadeus" stands above and apart from the mediocrity.