"Amadeus"

Title: "Amadeus"
Director: Milos Forman
Producer: Saul Saentz
Editing: Michael Chandler
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Starring:
- Tom Hulce as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- F. Murray Abraham as Antonio Salieri
- Elizabeth Berridge as Constanze Mozart

Plot and Critical Review: No doubt some of you saw the title of tonight's review and thought 'Lord, have mercy, he's never going to let this one go.' Indeed, I am tempted to enter into an endless review of investigation, explanation, flexing of the music history muscle, and exploration into the life of Mozart, my favorite of all composers. But much to my dismay this is not the place for it.

"Amadeus" is set within the context of the confession of Antonio Salieri, a composer who claims he killed Mozart. The movie "exists" in two realms; Salieri's chamber at the asylum and the past, the past in which we see Salieri and Mozart as children and then as revered composers. What a surprise for the priest who came to Salieri expecting to hear a simple confession but instead was overwhelmed with the story of a man deeply convicted of many things. Not only is Salieri mourning after the murder he believes to have committed, but he holds an enormous amount of anger toward God for blessing Mozart instead of him. That the film is titled "Amadeus" ((be)loved of God) only makes Salieri's confession more difficult to bear; for with all his heart he desired to serve God, to be a true servant of God through music. Although many complexities dwell within this film in the end it is about one man's envy of another and his quest to prove himself worthy of God's blessing.

When Mozart and Salieri first meet Mozart is under the employ of the Archbishop of Salzburg, Salieri the court composer to the court of Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, an avid fan of music, especially Salieri's. Salieri has known of Mozart since he was a boy and always admired him and his music. All of his preconcieved notions of Mozart come crashing down when he attends an event at which Mozart is scheduled to conduct his own music. By accident Salieri discovers Mozart's identity when the renowned composer is rolling around on the floor, giggling (the legendary laugh is born) and flirting with a girl (his future wife, Constanze). A small chamber orchestra elsewhere begins to play Mozart's music and as soon as Mozart springs to his feet, declaring "My music..." Salieri cannot believe that the man he has followed from afar is the "giggly dirty-minded creature" on the floor in front of him. Mozart rushes off to conduct the end of his piece and Salieri follows. When Mozart is escorted away to speak with the Archbishop (who is less than pleased with Mozart) Salieri looks upon the score. His words:

"On the page it looked nothing. The beginning simple, almost comic. Just a pulse - bassoons and basset horns - like a rusty squeezebox. Then suddenly - high above it - an oboe, a single note, hanging there unwavering, till a clarinet took over and sweetened it into a phrase of such delight! This was no composition by a performing monkey! This was a music I'd never heard. Filled with such longing, such unfulfillable longing, it had me trembling. It seemed to me that I was hearing a voice of God."

Here begins Salieri's great descent into envy, anger, and bitterness. As he continues to come into contact with the "voice of God" in the music of a man he considers obscene Salieri wrestles with why God would bless Mozart and not himself, a man dedicated himself to God and music!

The rest of the film is a capturing of the great contest between Salieri and Mozart, between Salieri and God. Mozart continues to ascend to greater glories in the musical world even though Salieri tries to sabotage him at every turn. Although Salieri attains minor victory Mozart becomes an enormous success in the eyes of all Vienna. In an ending that cannot be described as anything but "tragedy" the viewer is left amazed by the power of music, of the men who make music, and the God who gives the gift of music. Nominated for 11 Academy Awards and receiving 8, "Amadeus" is one of the few films to achieve Best Picture status without ever having reached the top of the box office standings. The highest this film ever reached was #6. Actors Hulce and Abraham shared the rare blessing of being nominated on the same ticket for work in the same movie, as both were nominated for Best Actor for their work in this movie. Abraham won, a profound surprise for an actor who was best known for his work playing a talking leaf on a Fruit of the Loom commercial.

Even though there is some debate over the historical accuracy of Shaffer's screenplay I must assure you there is no historical evidence to support the feud presented in this film. The two composers did compete for fame but only in the most proper fashion. No, Salieri did not kill Mozart.

My Rating: 9/10

The "Reel Revelation": "To Be Loved of God"

Have you ever felt envious of another person? Have you ever coveted, or desired, something that someone else had/possessed that you didn't? Have you ever felt that God blesses other people more than he blesses you?! Yes? This is the great theme woven through the heart of the plot of "Amadeus". Salieri was a truly accomplished composer, his music deeply loved by the people of Vienna and his master, Emperor Joseph II, but he was not satisfied as soon as he heard the "voice of God" in the music of Mozart, a man Salieri determined to be unworthy of such a divine gift. Perhaps you've felt exactly that way, save the music. And how much worse it is to be envious of a person because of what God has done for them instead of being jealous because of something simple like a possession. That we were only jealous because some people have nicer cars and bigger houses and larger salaries!

If there is a "center" to the universe of Christian theology it is this; we are loved by God! It's no mistake that one of the most well-known of all Bible verses begins "For God so loved..." This is a gift of matchless value! Forget "X Marks the Spot", forget "Chase the rainbow...", forget all that craziness! The great treasure of this life is found in Jesus, the Son of God, the vessel of God's love sent to us. Do you have this gift? Have you taken of this divine trove? If you have welcomed Jesus into your life and asked him to rescue your life from sin then yes, you have it! For those who are not Christians (or have not yet accepted the Christ), you are still loved by God! This is a gift! And if you posses this gift, if you "own" such a prize and keep it in your heart, why do you long for what another possesses? If the "Gift of God" is his love expressed in Jesus, why do we so seek after the gifts that others have and not the Giver?

This Lent may that sentiment be our aim, to seek the Giver, our God, the Father of all. Let us find complete contentment and peace in God, desiring for nothing else but the life he gives. This is the promise of God, that if we seek him, we will find him and he will bless our lives. And then, as the Psalmist so lovingly wrote, we "shall not want" for anything but God alone.

See you tomorrow - E.T.