Awesome period piece with lovely production design , outstanding score and top-notch acting

Rating: 8/10 (14 January 2014)

Very good adaptation about the intense confrontation among composers , including impressive soundtrack , gorgeous sets , glamorous billowy gowns , with magnificent scenario for the 18th century Europe . The film is an intense drama added with historic elements and formidable performances . The incredible story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 18th Century Vienna , told by his peer and secret rival Antonio Salieri - now confined to an insane asylum . They have a clash of wills , as Mozart is a vulgar , immature , licentious composer with a hyena laugh , and Salieri , the composer of court Jose II of Austria , Jeffrey Jones , schemes his tormentor's destruction . F.Murray Abraham's Salieri is a mediocre composer who desires greatness but is tortured himself by jealous , sorrow and envy , though admiring the greatest composer he has ever heard . His worst attacks of angst happen when he comes into contact with Tom Hulce's Mozart . Mozart is so awful , so much crass vulgarian who , despite his gifts remains unaffected and delighted by the beauty he composes while irking the hell out of everyone around him . Several real , or at least apocryphal, events from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's life were incorporated into the screenplay, including the interlude between the child Mozart and Marie Antionette . We are very interested in following developments and alternatively to their horrifying ending .
It's a stunning film full of superb music , literate , wit and an immensely dramatic fire . The picture contains some striking visual images , lavish setting with enormous production design by Patrizia Von Brandenstein , terrific period piece with realistic scenario for the XVIII century filmed on location in Prague, besides nifty brilliant costumes . In fact , Prague , Milos Forman's native city, was ideal as a stand-in for Vienna , as modern television antennas, plastic and asphalt had rarely been introduced under Communist rule . This is an agreeable rendition by playwright Peter Shaffer of his play about the dramatic rivalry among two great composers . Tom Hulce delivers a stunning portrayal, a boorish musician kissed with genius , sometimes a little bit exaggerated, of the popular composer whose music is become immortal. Hulce expresses musical genius and a first class finger-matching . Tom Hulce practiced four hours a day at the piano to appear convincing . Salieri is performed in masterly style throughout by F. Murray Abraham , winning deservedly one of the movie's Oscars , conveying inner feeling by looks , movements and gestures .
Evocative and colorful cinematography by Miroslav Ondricek . Entire film was shot with natural light , in order to get the proper diffusion of light for some scenes, it was covered windows from the outside with tracing paper . Terrific musical score by John Strauss with orchestra directed by Neville Marriner , as musical conductor of Mozart's music has a glorious sweep ; there are played the followings Mozart's plays : Concert nº 27 for pianoforte and orchestra in Flat Major , Ave Verum Corpus , Concert for clarinet and orchestra number 39 , number 40 and number 41 , Requiem ; furthermore , opera representations : Figaro's weddings , The magic flute , Don Giovanni ; in fact , the performance of "Don Giovanni" in the movie was filmed on the same stage where the opera first appeared . Sets and costumes for the operatic productions were based on sketches of the original costumes and sets used when the operas premiered . The motion picture was lavishly produced by Saul Zaentz and excellently directed by Milos Forman (Valmont, Ragtime ,Hair , Someone flow the Cucko nest , Larry Flint) ; it won eight Adamy Award as main actor , adapted screenplay , art direction , set decoration , make-up , costume , director and picture . In addition , it achieved several prizes , such as : Golden Globes , L.A. Films Critics , and French Cesar , among others . Devotees of the music will appeal this film which is a fine tribute to classical music .