A Tale of Two Musicians

Rating: Null/10 (27 March 2001)

Amadeus(1984) is an epic journey into the obsession and perfection driven music life of the legendary Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The story is told in the third person narrative by Mozart's rival, Salieri. The film at first suggests that Mozart was murdered. This changes as Salieri is presented as a tormented and guilt ridden man. Milos Forman does a great job in recreating the Vienna of Mozart's time.

Presents Mozart as a talented but goofy and obnoxious young musician. Salieri in his early life believes in god until he sees the greatness in a person that was obnoxious and rude. Salieri resents god more than he hates Mozart and takes this anger out on Mozart. F Murray Abraham gives a performance of great tragedy and high emotion. Amadeus(1984) is half true and half fiction.

What the film says is that its easiler to identify with mediocrity than it is to identify with pure genius. After all, pure genius is something that is a rare quality among human beings. Even a rarer quality in the field of art and artists. Mozart was a genius whose music at times rubbed people the wrong way. It was his genius that gave him room to be goofy and obnoxious.

Tom Hulce was the perfect actor to play Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He portrays the famous artist with a mixture of goffiness and perfectionist behavior. Mel Gibson tried out for the role of Mozart. He would have been wrong for the part because he could not give this role justice. Elizabeth Berridge as Mrs. Mozart is a mature counterpoint to the gifted but immature Amadeus Mozart.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Andy Kaufman have many things in common. First, the two artists did things that were ahead of their time and not well received by everyone. Second, both upset people with their antics, behavior, and manners. Third, both were driven artists who wanted to be the best of their craft. Finally, both died at the age of 35 and in tragic cercumstances.