Not great history, but great entertainment

Rating: 10/10 (6 September 1999)

Oh, how I love this film.
F. Murray Abraham's Oscar-winning portrayal of Salieri alone makes this film infinitely watchable. I saw this at the age of 19 and walked out of the theater and for the first time said to myself, "This is the best movie I have ever seen." It currently sits high in my all-time top ten.
Don't go looking for history retold. Few true stories re-told accurately make great films. But the creative liberties taken here add spice, intrigue and drama and do not detract one bit from the film.
One of the great achievements of filmmaking and the best scene in this picture has Mozart, weakened by fever, essentially dictating his Requiem to Salieri. As the movement builds from Mozart's imagination, we can see Salieri finally accept the extent of his true genius. That is certainly director's Milos Forman's finest hour - especially when you stop to consider how badly that could have played out.
I think that those of use who grew up musicians appreciate this movie more, not because of Mozart, but because we can relate to the searing hatred and jealously of Salieri. For all of us, no matter how hard we tried, there was always someone better.
This movie translates poorly to the small screen, as do most epics - but it is still a worthwhile rental. Here you will see the peak of Forman's, Abraham's and Hulce's career, played out with a little bit of history and heaps of extraordinary entertainment. Without question, **** out of ****.