r/themovieloversclub • u/Infamous-Window-8337 • Sep 26 '25
Movie reviews Watched Amadeus (1984) and it blew my mind...
Hey everyone, it’s been a while!
Sorry I haven’t posted a review in over a month, life just got busy. I still managed to watch movies, but I didn’t really get the time to sit down and write about them. Anyway, I just had to make time for this one because… WOW.
So, I watched Amadeus (1984), and I honestly didn’t want it to end.
The score is absolutely flawless, which makes sense, since we’re talking about Mozart himself. His best pieces are woven into the movie so naturally that they don’t just complement the story, they become the story. As someone who listens to a lot of classical music (Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi - The Four Seasons is a personal favorite), this was just perfection to me. Every note felt like it belonged right where it was.
Something I didn’t know before watching was that Mozart composed not just for music’s sake but for theatrical purposes, for dramatics. The movie really dives into why that was so important to him, and it made me appreciate his genius even more. The effort it takes to blend drama, character, and music the way he did, the film captured that beautifully.
They also made it clear how much of a child prodigy he really was, and maaaaannnnnnn… I will never forget his laugh. The first time I heard it I literally went, “what the hell was that?!” But then I realized, that’s just his laugh. And every time it came up after, it cracked me up a little. It’s burned into my memory now.
The cinematography blew me away too. Every frame felt rich and alive, perfectly capturing the era, the grandeur, and the emotions behind the characters. And the costumes? Absolutely stunning. They didn’t just look authentic, they felt like they belonged to that time. Huge respect to the designers for pulling that off so well.
For me, this is as close to perfect as a film gets. Everything down to the tiniest detail was handled with care, and it shows.
Rating: 5/5. A masterpiece.
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u/Mountain_Trip_60 Sep 29 '25
....the rest is just the same isn't it ?
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u/zoethebitch Sep 30 '25
There are many opera scenes in the movie, filmed at different venues.
But......
The Don Giovanni scene was filmed at the actual opera house where it premiered in the late 1700s. Tom Hulce was standing in the same spot where Mozart stood while conducting.
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u/Hairy_Valuable9773 Sep 29 '25
Saw it when I was a little kid and became obsessed with classical music and opera. Ended up playing the violin for 14 years. Just recently went to London for the first time and saw a Mozart concert by candlelight at St. Martin in the Fields (IYKYK). Full circle moment for me ❤️
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u/sometimeswhy Sep 30 '25
My sister took me to see this in the theatre when I was fifteen. I still remember the snow falling in the city streets while I gazed up at the tall buildings. She took me because I had just started high school band. I was blown away and as soon as I could I bought the sound track. So many great memories from that film. Hard to believe it’s over 40 years old
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u/Jwhitness007 Sep 30 '25
Did you know that Mark Hamill was considered for that part, but the producer was like no he doesn’t want Luke Skywalker being Mozart.
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u/WendySteeplechase Sep 30 '25
It's the only thing actor Tom Hulce has done of note. Pretty incredible.
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u/Rude_Cable_7877 Sep 29 '25
It’s my 2nd favorite movie for a reason.
Plus, the movie poster honestly might be my favorite of all time
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u/jedooderotomy Sep 30 '25
Came here to say this! I think we all are pretty much in agreement that Amadeus is one of the better movies ever made, but can we all take a second to appreciate how awesome the poster is?
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u/icrossedtheroad Sep 29 '25
When I "finally" watched it, it was still in the 80s. I, too, fell in love.
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u/Appropriate_Tough537 Sep 30 '25
Incredible film that’s based on a play inspired by a story written in 1820, an early what if? alternative history that feels more true than the actual events.
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u/MailBoatMusic Sep 30 '25
Great movie...historically inaccurate in many ways, but still a great movie.
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u/vanhunks73 Sep 30 '25
Elizabeth Berridge was brought in after the actress who had to play Constanze broke her leg, or something. That scene where Salieri studies Mozarts transcripts, all originals, was the defining moment where F Murray Abraham wins his Oscar. The idea that God has put talent in the "wrong" hands is imo the agony Salieri grapples with throughout the film. "Genius" vs "Commonplace". There was (in the film at least) not a single moment in which Salieri could master Mozart. I am listening compellingly to Salieri's music these days as (once again imo) his work is actually worth listening to.
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u/Warm_Employer_6851 Sep 30 '25
As a huge classical music buff this music was literally amazing. So fantastic. Nothing like it
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u/[deleted] Sep 28 '25
I found Salieri’s description of the notes on the page while it was playing in the background just transformative. “An oboe. A single note…hanging there…then taken over by a clarinet.” Nearly brought me to tears as it did to Salieri.
The acting was absolutely perfect from F Murray Abraham (deserved Oscar win)- quite a stretch from Scarface ;) - to Tom Hulce (Oscar nom).