Wolfie Rivalry

Rating: Null/10 (19 May 2009)

This is a very "cut to the good parts" version of a great composer's life. Although this movie was mainly about Mozart's life it was also about Antonio Salieri's life as well. The movie compared each of these two composers and described the apparent rivalry between them. Though I doubt Mozart felt he had any competition. Both actors played the roles effectively; I even started to associate them with the real men of that time.
Also the movie depicts Salieri as a suffered man who loved music but was only an average musician compared to the born musician Mozart. The movie is very effective in persuading people to believe this story, because in reality Salieri really didn't plot to kill Mozart. I must say though that some parts of the movie are very true to Mozart's image, especially the fact that his Requiem became his unfinished piece.
I really enjoyed watching this movie and each scene seemed to fit in perfectly with the music that was being played. The movie flowed very well. I would have liked to see more of Mozart's childhood in this movie because it only shows glimpses of his past performances. I do understand though that the main focus was his adult life and career. I don't think many people notice where the movie took place was not in Austria but in the Czech Republic. I really liked the portrayal of Mozart as a genius yet light-hearted man. I also liked the costumes. The costumes were so elaborate, colorful and elegant made me want to get some of those clothes.
Some scenes are too dark to tell what is happening. In the opening scene I couldn't tell what was happening because it jumped too fast and was there was not enough light.
I really did like the actor Tom Hulce as Mozart. He seems to have studied his part in order to do a great role in the movie. Every time he laughed was very comical and I wonder if he laughed at himself for laughing that way throughout the movie. I really didn't like Salieri, the character, but this was because he was shown as in a bad light. I don't believe he was so hateful and envious of Mozart that he would have tried to ruin him. He is pivotal in getting the point of the story across, so I see his importance. F. Murray Abraham did an amazing job as Salieri I almost did believe he was full of envy. I think that the audience will grow to hate but also understand Salieri.
I was most captivated by this movie through the music. I would have liked to have seen this movie before actually visiting Salzburg, Austria. Salzburg was the birthplace of Mozart, as I found out while being there. I even went to his birth home and childhood home, not actually knowing all of his life's details or even seeing this movie. Now I want to visit Salzburg again because I feel that after watching this movie I better understand my view of Mozart's music and life. While I was in Salzburg I knew very little of this man. I know that this is just a movie but it really made me research and learn more about this brilliant man and his rival.