A Biopic Unlike Any Other

Rating: 9/10 (10 January 2019)

If you were to ask me what are my favorite biopics on well known musicians or composers, one immediate answer would be Amadeus. Based on the play of the same name by Peter Shaffer (who also wrote the film's screenplay), this film won multiple oscars in 1985, one of which being best picture. But what exactly makes this film so special to not only me, but to so many film buffs and critics alike? Well, given that the film is a fictionalized depiction of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, it doesn't actually focus on his whole life. Instead, the central focus is told from a lesser known composer who knew the lad, Antonio Salieri.
The main storyline revolves around Salieri loving Mozart's incredible work but resenting the man's obscene and repugnant behavior. Due to not being as good as Wolfgang, Salieri becomes jealous to the point of taking vengeance on the young composer. What makes Salieri so intriguing as a lead is how spiritual he is, as he fell in love with music after getting close to the lord. So upon seeing that the lord bestowed such miraculous talents to a raunchy individual, his bitter perspective of Amadeus makes for great rivalry. However, the film also showcases Mozart's own struggles regarding his personal life with a concerned wife and father and getting his visions out with the emperor's approval. This contrast proves how even though Salieri wishes he was in Mozart's shoes, it wouldn't do him any good since the rival's life was no better than his.
Then there's the actors, who really help convey the right emotions and charisma to each given character. F. Murray Abraham represents Salieri as a very down to earth and respectful admirer of music, but he also captures his stubborn animosity towards Mozart through subtle emoting and expressions. Tom Hulce clearly had a lot of fun playing Amadeus whenever he would act goofy and immature, but he's also able to sell the character's inner worries and passion in a very relatable way. Elizabeth Berridge is able to bring a good mix of heart and pathos to Mozart's wife Constanze, which again, proves how Mozart's life was not as grand as Salieri thought. The other actors are either appropriately subdued or lively in their own regard, but the main actors are the glue that resonate with viewers the most.
While the film may not be completely accurate to the real story of Mozart, it is highly detailed in terms of getting the 18th century time period down. The costumes by Theodor Pistek look very fashionable for their day, and one can tell how much creativity was put into them. From a technical standpoint, the cinematography recreates the film to resemble the aforementioned century, from the color scheme to the establishing sets and shots. It's almost as if we're viewing what that century looked like back then. In fact, some of the operas performed in the film were even shot on location at the original Count Nostitz Theatre in Prague. Not to mention, musical professors and scholars have said that not one note in this film is misplayed, so this flick might be the right choice for a music class.
Needless to say, Amadeus is not only well crafted in nearly every way, but it also succeeds in telling us how stubborn some people are. No matter how much you envy someone whose better than you, that should never be a reason to let it consume your well being. Sometimes, you just have to accept the fact that you might not be as accomplished in your passion as someone else, and then you can move on with your life smoothly and rationally. So if you haven't seen this flick yet, definitely give it a watch any time. Remember, it's not called Amadeus because it focuses specifically on Mozart. It's called Amadeus because it focuses on another composer's view on Mozart; think about that.