Amadeus (Director's Cut)

Directed by Miloš Forman who also brought us One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, this film was not what I was expecting from a Best Picture (1984) winner, regardless that the Director's Cut was 20 minutes longer than the theatrical release. This was a film that was technically impressive and lavishly produced, the directing, cinematography, production design, editing, hair, make-up and costume design, music (and dance!) were top notched, but the acting and the cast was inconsistent, and the story - adapted by Peter Shaffer from his own Broadway production - was challenging to say the least.  Amadeus was, surprisingly, a rather broad comedy, light on the histrionics and overt dramatics, and more fictionally dramatised than biographically factual. Nonetheless, even at 3 hours long, this film never felt long or boring. Forman's directing was superb and the storytelling - for all its challenges - was intriguing and engaging. 

Lead actors F Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce were at two opposite ends of the spectrum of greatness Abraham was great from the moment he was introduced and held it together as the tortured maestro who felt that God had betrayed him as he lied and schemed to ensure Mozart's failure. On the other hand, Hulce's performance deepened as the film progressed. His infantile portrayal of Mozart started off grating but as the story unfolded and Mozart's fortune reversed, Hulce gained depth and dimension. Mozart's final moments were extraordinary.

However, the rest of the cast with their broad American accents - especially female lead Elizabeth Berridege as Constanze Mozart - was intrusive and weirdly disjointed. Also, why did some then speak with horribly bad Italian/German accents?

Mozart's music was phenomenal and arresting, and one would expect nothing less from a film about his life. Cinematography was by Forman's fellow Czech, Miroslav Ondříček, and was beautiful especially the interior, candle-lit shots. Twyla Tharp choreographed the dance/ballet/opera sequences and they were equally beautiful.

Amadeus was a fascinating, albeit more fictionalised than factual, look into Mozart's life and music. It definitely made Mozart a more intriguing character than what most lay person would assumed, and gave a resurgence to Antonio Salieri that he - allegedly - so desperately craved when he was alive.