The Ordinairy & the Extraordinary

Rating: 10/10 (19 September 2007)

Such a combination of humor and bittersweet insight into the soul of the ordinary man, ah, it is divine.
Though named after Mozart, the story is truly about his contemporary, Antonia Salieri. And that is how his life is. Salieri longs for greatness, he pledges everything he has in order to attain it. Yet, he is only given just enough talent to realize how mediocre her truly is. Mozart, on the other hand- everything is about Mozart! He is a prodigy, gets attention from everyone, receives the blessed talent of God and his name endures far beyond his death. But what does Mozart do for it? Nothing! He is vulgar, crass, squanders his time, money and talent, and yet is magically versed in the language of angels. Salieri's consuming jealousy of and fascination with this man leads you down a gripping path of laughter and loathing.
Simply as a historical piece, I think this is an excellent movie. Tom Hulce expresses height of farce and wallows in the shallow depths of his patheticness in a way that brings a fresh contemporary air to the film. But even more than this, Amadeus is a look at the human condition. Each of us grapple with yearning for the greatness that so few attain. F. Murray Abraham more than deserved his Oscar for Saleiri. The biting insight drew smiles as well as tears of irony.
The music is, of course, superb. Apparently Tom Hulce plays, note for note, exactly what you hear in the film. Useless fact, but proof of meticulous attention to detail. The costumes and sets are lovely and the supporting actors are all very good. Credit should definitely be given to the writers, without whom, we would not have such endearing lines:
Emperor Joseph II: Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.
Mozart: Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?