"Danny told me not to trust you. He said you killed Mozart."

Rating: 8/10 (29 April 2020)

"Amadeus" is a weird and vibrant portrayal of the life of Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the man who claimed to have killed him. Despite it's nearly three hour runtime (that's mostly comprised of dialogue heavy scenes), it's still a very compelling and engaging watch. So although I don't view "Amadeus" as a 10/10 masterpiece, it's still worth a watch for music and film fans alike.
F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce both did an excellent job as the film's two lead characters. They both strike the perfect balance of being both unpleasant and likeable, causing the audience to constantly change their allegiance during the course of the movie. It was a smart decision to make the antagonist of "Amadeus" essentially the main character, as it gives the both of the main characters protagonist and antagonist traits. As we witness how childish and vain Mozart could be and the obsessive lengths that Salieri goes to in an attempt to destroy his rival, we can root for both characters, even if we don't agree with their actions.
One of the best elements of "Amadeus" is it's superb cinematography. Whatever you may think of the movie's depiction of its title character, you can't deny that this film is outstanding on a visual level. The rich colours combined with the opulence of the locations and the deep darkness that envelops the gloomier scenes creates a feast for the eyes.
The visual design in "Amadeus" is very impressive; the elaborate sets and lavish costumes effectively capture the feel of the time period, which helps the story feel grounded in reality despite the film's bizarre style.
As this is a semi biopic of Amadeus Mozart, one of the most prolific and beloved composers in music history, music is obviously a key aspect of "Amadeus." The music is utilised brilliantly here, it gives the film a dreamlike and theatrical atmosphere whilst also elevating the more dramatic sequences to near operatic levels. Unlike many modern films based upon the lives of musical superstars (like the ridiculously overrated "Bohemian Rhapsody"), the soundtrack in "Amadeus" isn't just shoehorned into the movie unnecessarily, it's an organic part of the film that helps tell the story in a more creative way.
My only major criticism of "Amadeus" is that the section of the film that takes place in the less-extravagant theatre that plays low-budget Mozart productions goes on for far too long. I understand that these moments depict that Mozart was financially irresponsible, but these scenes became tedious and dull pretty quickly.
To summarise, I really enjoyed "Amadeus." It's not the sort of film I'd usually gravitate towards, but I'm really glad I saw it; the performances are top-notch, the visuals are spectacular and the way that the story unfolds is intelligent and powerful. I'm aware that it has the potential to greatly anger history buffs, but I would definitely recommend "Amadeus."