In the mid to late 1700's in Austria, a musical genius was born and lived for only 36 years, but it was during that time that the world was subject to the greatness that was the man named Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The story is told by his main rival, Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), once proud court composer, who has been confined to a mad house years after Mozart's death. He still claims that it was his fault Mozart died, and so he is telling his tale of woe to a priest.
Mozart (Tom Hulce) has been asked to compose for Emperor Joseph II (Jeffrey Jones... how did he go from playing the Emperor in Amadeus to playing Mr. Rooney in Ferris Bueller's Day Off?).
However, Mozart is a vulgar, filthy little boy with a strange laugh. But he is also a renowned genius that has been making music since he was 5 years old.
Mozart soon marries Constanze Weber (Elizabeth Berridge), a lovely young girl, whom he loves dearly, and together they have six children (though only one is shown in the mvie, all but two dies young and the two sons that live long die bachelors and childless before the age of fifty.)
As Mozart creates masterpieces for the Emperor, Antonio Salieri becomes more and more jelous by the day, untill one day when he realizes that GOD has choosen Mozart to be what he desperatly wanted to become... famous, and that he must do something about Mozart for once, and for all.
I thought both F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce were spectacular. It's too bad Tom Hulce wasn't nomiated for a supporting Oscar or he would have won hands down. Had Abraham not won the Oscar, Tom Hulce would have done well to win because his performance was absolutly remarkable. I rather enjoyed watching him act... very well done... what more can I say?
The only problem I had with the film was the scene involving burning the cross... I dissagree with ANYONE showing sacralidge to GOD (ANY GOD, whatever one you may coose to worship). I think it's wrong, but I do realize that this has its place in film, if only to show true horrors (like movies about the Ku Klux Klan, for example). On the other hand, however, this is Abrahma's best scene in the whole movie, hands down.
Another thing I loved about the film is that they did not use phoney accents. the actors, speaking in English, did not use German accents... rather, they had no accents. We are made to belive that they are talking to each other in a foreign language because they live in another country (Austria). Only we can understand them because they are acting in English. Do you understand? (I don't think I do...)
Other than that one scene I thought the whole movie was a brilliant tribute to a musical genius that died far to young and far too tragically. I mena, they couldn't even afford a proper grave! Even to this day, his remains have been lost for all time... he should have a proper monument for all to remember him.
Plot: 
A wonderful telling of the life of one of the worlds greatest musical geniuses of all time.
Visual Effects: 
Though there are no real "special effects," the cinematograpy is OK, and did you notice that the WHOLE movie wa filmed in natural light? IE) no electric lights, only candles and sunlight? A nice touch to get that old-world feel.
Sound:
Using the composer's own works made the film even better; for one not a fan of classical music, the music was catchy and exceptionally well reproduced.
Nice touch with not using accents.
Character Development:
Atmosphere:
At first galnce Amadeus may look boring, but it is far from it; the costumes, funny hair, the setting... this may only serve make the film look boring but what it actually does is make the film more enjoyable.
Realism:
A wonderful account of the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. We do not know everything that was said between Mozart and the other characters, but what we do know is that many of these events did happen.
Several apocryphal events from Mozart's life were incorporated into the screenplay, which only serve to enhance the movie.
Warren’s Rating: 
Movies it beat out for Best Picture:
The Killing Fields; A passage to India; Places in the Heart; A Soldier's Story
9.00/10Is the movie worth your time to watch?
30-05-04
Age at win: 45
Nominated for: Best Actor in a Leading Role, Antonio Salieri, Amadeus
Nomination: 1/1 (acting), 1/1 (total); Win: Only
F. Murray Abraham's portrayal of Antonio Salieri, the man who is insanly jelous of the gifts given Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was thrilling. He comes off cocky and stuck up, not, rather, calm, cool or collected. He plays a man who, by all accounts is some old "stiff." He isn't as flamboyant as Tom Hulce's Mozart, but we understand where his comming from.
In every scene we see no emotion from Abraham except in the cross burning scene (which is his best scene in the whole movie) and the scenes in which we see Salieri talking to the priest.
The end scene, when Salieri is being wheeled through the mad house was a change in character from what we had seen from Abraham earlier in the film, but once again, well performed on all accounts.
30-05-04
