I think I’m going to lead with the ‘negative’ on this one—the biggest flaw of “Amadeus” is that it’s named after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at all. Sure, the film is a fictionalized biography of Mozart’s life, beginning with his brash, immature swagger, effortless talent, and daring rise. The film then grapples with his political missteps, struggles with money, family demons, and downward spiral, before settling at his eventual death. Still, the film is not truly ‘about’ Mozart. Rather, this film is about its main character and our narrator, Salieri.
In a wonderfully subversive opening sequence (for the uninformed, like me), we learn that the old man we have been following and listening to was not Mozart but rather Antonio Salieri, an Italian composer and the alleged rival of Mozart. He describes a youth of prayer and practice on a path to his station as the court composer of Emperor Joseph II. An early infatuation with Mozart’s work soon slips towards irritation and then jealousy as Mozart seemed to soar past him in performance and popularity. However, even amidst Mozart’s demise, Salieri never stops privately reveling in Mozart’s creation. The film concludes as a story of frenemies but with a fatal twist.
I ended up loving the film. It almost plays like the extravagant operas it prominently featured, marinating in orotund expression until evolving into revealing character moments. The art design is impeccable and the acting is top notch. But mostly, I loved this film for our narrator (and F. Murray Abraham’s excellent performance as him).
I can’t even recall or describe examples of why, but I found myself connected to Salieri’s story for all of the uncouth, sordid, and well, human reasons one could be. The notion of pouring energy so deeply into the pursuit of perfection—never quite getting there—and then seeing another so effortlessly seize what you seek is relatable. But how Salieri lost faith and grappled with purpose in an unfair world felt inglorious and yet unavoidably congruous with my darkest humanity. It’s pretty special when a film is able to shine a spotlight on something in yourself; scary and exciting at the same time. For that reason alone, despite the film's excess, fiction, and length, I loved it.