Amadeus

Name: Amadeus
Genre: Drama, Music
Released: April 5, 2002
Duration: 160 min
Rating: 88
Cast: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce

2002

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 28 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 352 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 352 Ratings

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Amadeus

Movie Details & Credits

Orion Pictures Corporation | Release Date: April 5, 2002

Starring: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce

Summary: The 2002 Director's Cut of Milos Forman's Oscar-winning 1984 film about the rivalry between composers Mozart (Hulce) and Salieri (Abraham).

Director: Milos Forman

Genre(s): Drama, Music

Rating: PG

Runtime: 160 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

New York Daily News - Jack Mathews

Amadeus is about as close to perfection as movies get. Read full review

100

Chicago Tribune - Michael Wilmington

It still soars, but now it seems richer, more expansive. Amadeus reminds us that movies can be lyrical as well as vulgar, ambitious as well as playful, brilliant as well as down and dirty -- just like Amadeus himself. Read full review

100

Total Film - Staff (Not Credited)

With his native Prague standing in for Vienna, Forman's images of icy beauty counterpoint the soaring music and grandstanding performances. Read full review

Time - Richard Corliss

A grand, sprawling entertainment that incites enthrallment for much of its 2 hr. 38 min. Read full review

Baltimore Sun - Michael Sragow

Except for the Mozart music and Tharp movements around the edges, Amadeus plays like a monument to mediocrity. The movie belongs to Salieri. Read full review

The New York Times - Vincent Canby

Mr. Forman has preserved the fascinating heart of Mr. Shaffer's play, and made it available to millions who might never enter a legitimate theater. Well done. Read full review

Miami Herald - Bill Cosford

This movie Mozart seems little more than a wild and crazy music-maker, whose biggest problem was that his compositions had "too many notes." And that, as Forman's Mozart might say, ain't much. [20 Sep 1984, p.C1]

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User Reviews

RegOz

Sep 30, 2014

One word: Brilliant! It is in my top 10...do I need to say more? You have to watch it, that is the only way you can make up your mind! Forget about the reviews, go and experience this movie yourself! My son watched it for the first time when he was 10 ( 4 years ago) and guess what he didOne word: Brilliant! It is in my top 10...do I need to say more? You have to watch it, that is the only way you can make up your mind! Forget about the reviews, go and experience this movie yourself! My son watched it for the first time when he was 10 ( 4 years ago) and guess what he did after we watched it together? He went to internet to learn more about Mozart and his biography. He fell in love with Amadeus! Milos Forman inspired him! I think that tells you a lot about the value of this film. In Amadeus, the cinematography, scenography, costumes, plot, etc, are perfect! I couldn't recommend it more!… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

JMH

May 7, 2012

How better to tell a story of mediocrity, the average human condition, than by telling a story of a genius through the eyes of a mediocrity? Amadeus is not a film about Mozart, played flamboyantly by Tom Hulce; it's a film about his contemporary Antonio Salieri, played by F. Murray AbrahamHow better to tell a story of mediocrity, the average human condition, than by telling a story of a genius through the eyes of a mediocrity? Amadeus is not a film about Mozart, played flamboyantly by Tom Hulce; it's a film about his contemporary Antonio Salieri, played by F. Murray Abraham as a sort of composer-everyman. The film's plot is largely fictional, with its earliest source in Alexandr Pushkin's 1830 Mozart and Salieri. Salieri blames God for meting out the greatest gift He could offer a composer, genius, with cruel unfairness. Salieri feels he's a devoted servant of God, via his music. But comes Mozart, in Salieri's eyes a pagan who nonetheless creates, sans effort, music Salieri knows to be genius -- this "idle loafer" (per Pushkin) has been granted God's gift. Salieri can't accept this injustice, and he plots Mozart's death, all the while hearing the voice of God in Mozart's art. Herein, Amadeus tackles two eternal themes in man's relationship with genius. The seeming arbitrariness of genius -- placed in select hands -- belittles ordinary men. Yet the product of genius raises ordinary men beyond the brutalities of worldly existence. Most of us are mediocrities mocked and enlightened by some form of genius we don't fully comprehend. Accordingly, Salieri's mission takes on ironic motive: "I speak for all mediocrities in the world. I am their champion. I am their patron saint." Taking a step back, should genius be stamped out because it's inegalitarian by nature, or relished because it enlightens the vulgar masses of which we're a part? Director Milos Forman allows both possibilities to play out brilliantly. And from Forman there are deeper questions, as the Czechoslovakian-born director lost his parents in the Holocaust and emigrated to the U.S. when the Soviets invaded his homeland. Most specifically, does genius have the potential to save men from themselves and their worst collective impulses? At its heart, Amadeus asserts, emphatically, that it does.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Swati

Oct 28, 2013

My first impression was that it was a humorous movie. Gradually, the tone turned darker as Mozart turned inwards for inspiration, losing his boyish charm in the process. The music composed during this period was the most compelling. But his rival dogs his every step, sabotaging his successMy first impression was that it was a humorous movie. Gradually, the tone turned darker as Mozart turned inwards for inspiration, losing his boyish charm in the process. The music composed during this period was the most compelling. But his rival dogs his every step, sabotaging his success by using his influence at the court. Unlike some of the musicals which give me a headache afterwards, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, because there was ample humour and dialogue between the musical pieces. I have never enjoyed opera but here I could not get enough of it, for there is no denying that Mozart is a freaking genius. I had never had a full dosage of Mozart before I watched the movie and I'm glad I got introduced to his work in its full swing. For the naive viewer, this is a piece of fiction and you should take it like that. There is no evidence that Mozart's career turned out as it is depicted in this movie. It is based on a play by the famous Russian poet Pushkin, whose life could also do with a dramatic film.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Compi24

Nov 28, 2012

Massive in terms of scale, talent, and allure, "Amadeus" remains an epic in every sense of the word.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Futuredirector

Sep 3, 2016

Intense, reckless, gorgeously interpreted and nicely written, Amadeus really deserves the Oscar. The music lovers will love this interesting film, destined to be one of the bests ever.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RaduA

Apr 12, 2019

75/100 Ok... ok... it wasn't as bad as I was expecting.
The music is very good (no **** Sherlock), it's filmed beautiful with good acting (that laugh desperates me). It was a bit boring (I did not really care about the story) and the humor did not work (I smiled a little). It was good-ish.75/100 Ok... ok... it wasn't as bad as I was expecting.
The music is very good (no **** Sherlock), it's filmed beautiful with good acting (that laugh desperates me). It was a bit boring (I did not really care about the story) and the humor did not work (I smiled a little). It was good-ish. That laugh...… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

stepholicious

Feb 25, 2012

I was quite keen to watch this film but the over top and ridiculous American accent of Tom Hulce detracted from what could have otherwise been an enjoyable historical drama. Does it not matter what country the movie is set it? I'm sick of hearing **** American regardless of the setting.

2 of 13 users found this helpful211

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