Picture 57: Amadeus (1984)

Winner of 8 Academy Awards, 1984 takes us to the flourishing 18th century Viennese musical scene. Who shows up other than one of the most naturally gifted musicians of all time? That’s right, we are greeted with Milos Forman’s feverish biopic of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce).

Wolfgang was a childhood genius with freakish talent. He was composing and performing for kings when barely out of his crib. As an adult, he keeps entire symphonies in his head and can play five instruments to at least a Grade 8 standard. His nearest rival, Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) is an extremely talented composer but no match for Amadeus. Salieri is the composer to Emperor Joseph II but soon his crown is under threat from the youthful Mozart. This results in Salieri developing emotional and self-esteem issues. Time to get the violins out.

The young adult Wolfgang is a once in a generation talent but doesn’t quite have the maturity to match. He has a most bizarre laugh – one that tests the patience of viewers and his fellow cast members. Genius seems to run alongside mood swings, alcoholism and bizarre behaviour. This ambiguity runs true through the film. We see the brilliance and the torment that gave birth to timeless masterpieces such as The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute.

Salieri knows Mozart’s art is unmatched and he is both sick with envy as well as admiration. He prayed to be graced with divine talent. He was, just not in the way he had hoped. His soul is perfectly and beautifully crushed. Amadeus presents an intoxicating mix of art forms as opera meets cinema and comedy meets tragedy. There is opulence to spare and there are also a lot of wigs – a bit like the Favourite (2018) but with better music. Historical liberties are joyfully taken for entertainment purposes.

F. Murray Abraham is at his very best and deserving of the best actor Oscar he won for it. He navigates the compelling nuances of human suffering and the sting of relative mediocrity with sumptuous ease. This film is extremely good indeed and well deserving of its Academy Award.

Rating: 9/10

Oscar Best Picture Rankings:

1. The Godfather (1972)

2. Casablanca (1943)

3. The Apartment (1960)

4. Rebecca (1940)

5. The Godfather: Part II (1974)

6. The Sound of Music (1965)

7. Ordinary People (1980)

8. The Deer Hunter (1978)

9. A Man for All Seasons (1966)

10. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

11. Ben-Hur (1959)

12. Lost Weekend (1945)

13. Gandhi (1982)

14. Rocky (1976)

15. Annie Hall (1977)

16. Amadeus (1984)

17. All About Eve (1950)

18. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

19. Hamlet (1948)

20. How Green Was My Valley (1941)

21. Gone With the Wind (1939)

22. West Side Story (1961)

23. Mrs. Miniver (1942)

24. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

25. Wings (1928)

26. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

27. You can’t take it with you (1938)

28. Patton (1970)

29. Terms of Endearment (1983)

30. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

31. On the Waterfront (1954)

32. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

33. Midnight Cowboy (1969)

34. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

35. Marty (1955)

36. Oliver! (1968)

37. Cimarron (1931)

38. Grand Hotel (1932)

39. The French Connection (1971)

40. An American in Paris (1951)

41. From Here to Eternity (1953)

42. It Happened One Night (1934)

43. My Fair Lady (1964)

44. Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)

45. Cavalcade (1933)

46. The Sting (1973)

47. The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

48. Going My Way (1944)

49. The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

50. Chariots of Fire (1981)

51. All the King’s Men (1949)

52. In the Heat of the Night (1967)

53. Gigi (1958)

54. Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

55. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

56. The Broadway Melody (1929)

57. Tom Jones (1963)

Previous or current ranking leaders are in bold.

With credit and thanks to the patrons of the Best Picture Film Club:

Dr Sophie Bloomfield – Fashion Correspondent

Dr Caspar Briault – Head of Cynicism

Dr Conrad Charlton

Dr Sophie Clarke

Dr Kate Diomede

Dr Fionnuala Durrant

Dr Josh Fisher

Dr Joseph Gallaher – CEO and Founder

Dr Joseph Hamilton

Dr Adam Holland

Dr Sid Mohan - Divisional Lead for the 1980s

Dr Hannah Morrison

Dr Meera Radia