Brilliant Work From All Concerned

Rating: Null/10 (10 September 2003)

Having purchased the directors cut and seen the film again for the first time in 20 years, I was amazed at how well it has held up and has refused to become dated. F. Murray Abraham, whom I first encountered in the Richard Dryefus Film, The Big Fix, gives the performance of a lifetime as the frustrated mediocrity, Salieri. Every nuance, every emotion, every single moment of subtext that passes across his face is a revelation. As a teacher of high school theater, I have often wished I could meet Mr. Abraham to tell him how much his performance moved me. Tom Hulce, as Mozart, gives a much broader, but equally affecting performance. Elizabeth Berridge, as Costanze, is perfect in her vulnerability. Milos Forman creates the correct mood with every set up, and the production design, costumes and make-up are fab. As has been stated, the movie is completely Salieri's. It's Salieri vs. god and Mozart is a vehicle for that, along with providing the perfect scoring to underpin each and every scene. I love this movie so much, that we are doing it for our high school's fall play. While the Peter Shaffer script and screenplay are much different, as befits the different media in which they are presented, they are equally powerful.