Movieholic Review – “Amadeus”

Rated – R (Originally PG).

Year – 1984.     

Running Time – 2 hours and 38 minutes (Director’s Cut – 2 hours and 58 minutes).

Director – Milos Forman.

Stars – F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Roy Dotrice, Simon Callow, Christine Ebersole, Cynthia Nixon, and Jeffrey Jones. 
                           
Story Breakdown – Antonio Salieri tells a priest a story about how he new Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  

Oscar Wins – (8) – Picture, Director, Actor (F. Murray Abraham), Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction-Set Decoration, Sound, Costume Design, and Makeup.    

My Rating – 4 (out of 4)   

Review – Overlong but fascinating film adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s play. F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce both give the best performances of their careers, and the supporting cast is fine too (especially Jeffrey Jones as Emperor Joseph II). The direction, writing, sets, and music are also first-rate. It takes a little while to get into it, but then it traps you with its power and delivers masterful movie-art.