Film
1985 (USA, France) (Period Drama/Tragedy/Biography/Music)
Director: Milos Forman
Writers: Peter Shaffer, Zdenek Mahler
Starring: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge
A Member’s Choice Film: F. Murray Abraham delivers a captivating performance in this new re-release of Amadeus in its original 1984 theatrical cut, portraying Antonio Salieri with brooding intensity.
Adapted by Peter Shaffer from his stage play and directed by Miloš Forman, the film explores the envious rivalry between the mediocre court composer Salieri and the prodigious Mozart, played by Tom Hulce.
Salieri, initially content with his success, becomes consumed by jealousy as Mozart’s genius eclipses him, leading to dark schemes. The film features stunning set-pieces, like Mozart’s spirited courtroom arrival and his witty retaliation during a masked ball, illustrating Salieri’s torment.
Abraham’s portrayal reveals a man torn between admiration and destructive envy, culminating in a chilling scene where Salieri proclaims himself the patron saint of mediocrity. Amadeus remains mesmeric, blending drama and music into a powerful meditation on envy, talent, and the destructive power of artistic obsession.
(2 hrs 33 mins)