August 3, 2026 Amadeus revisited

Amadeus: One of my three favourite films of all time is Amadeus, along with Jaws and Shawshank Redemption. Anyone who knows me, or has seen any list I have ever created would know this. I have always loved the 1984 Milos Forman movie that won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (F. Murray Abraham) among the eight Oscars that it won. What attracted me on top of the performances which were outstanding was the music, and the creative process (in this case music creation). Set in the late 1700s, Mozart is arriving in Vienna after having been a child prodigy and known throughout Europe having performed before Kings and Queens. He was taken from place to place by his demanding and driven father, Leopold. I knew that the film was based upon the successful play by Peter Shaffer in 1979, which is performed from time to time. I had always expected that I would be having to travel to London UK or maybe New York City to see it. Then earlier this year I saw that Shaw Festival was performing the play Amadeus over the summer a few weeks. I couldn’t buy tickets fast enough.

I wasn’t sure what I expected, but I knew the film well enough to distinguish the elements that were used within the movie and those that were new (or at least the original source material). The structure was there, with competing composer Antonio Salieri speaking as an old man about how he professed to have murdered Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the world reknowned composer, and then he recounting his own history with the young Mozart. It is a compelling story with an ordinary man (Salieri) with some musical ability who wishes to praise God through his industry and music. He was court composer in Vienna, a very pretigious position from a humble boy from Italy, under Emperor Joseph II. Then Mozart comes along in the form of a spoiled, egotistical, profane, man-child. But his music is magnificent and as Salieri discovers is the very voice of God. Salieri feels deeply offended and decides to ruin God’s incarnation. Then the story continues.

The play is quite different from the movie in some material ways. There primarily isn’t as much music in the play. That is unfortunate. I remember hearing the story in the Making Of for Amadeus that the music Director for St Martins in the Fields in London was approached to do the music for the movie, and his response was that he would do it on the one condition: that not one note of Mozart’s music would be touched. Milos Forman agreed. I think through this interaction with the musical director that Forman came to realize the greatness of the music involved. He embraced it. For the play, like the movie, Salieri is the focal point and he has the majority of the lines in it. Salieri in the play is married. Despite this he holds a candle for one of the singers that he tutors. He learns that Mozart has been with his treasured student and he vows to make a move on Mozart’s new wife Constanza. It is an uncomfortable exchange and changes the scene from the movie where Constanza brings her husband’s music for Salieri’s review in order to be considered for the post of tutor for the Emperor’s niece. The Emperor is still a bumbling musical neophyte with a tin ear, but he is also an unwitting ally for Mozart as he recognizes music that is pleasing to his ear. Mozart is still profane but immeasurably talented. The play decides to focus on different aspects on the life of Mozart and him with Vienna. It shows his early success with his operas, but with Salieri’s efforts to undermine his actions. He is successful and to his surprise. He was awaiting God’s intervention which never came. In summary, I was glad to see the play. I liked the film better. It was a very pleasant evening at the theatre to see a production that I never thought I would see near Toronto.

Amadeus: TV series: Unbeknownst to me, there was a new five part TV series released in December 2025 starring Paul Bettany as Salieri, and unknown to me Will Sharpe as Mozart. This series was also based upon the Shaffer play. But it is five hours from a play that was 2.5 hours. So there is a lot of additional scenes and filler which are different from both the movie and the play itself. There is a fundamental shift in this story with Mozart being a little more hurtful towards Salieri. There is more music, which I appreciated a great deal with more scenes about the operas. In addition, there is a new wrinkle with Constanza and Salieri together. They build on the play, with additional factors involved.

There were additional scenes here with Leopold, which I feel were missing with the play. Leopold and his relationship with his son is a key factor in Salieri’s undoing of Mozart. The building blocks of Mozart’s attitude towards the world are started with his Dad, and how they view his talent. The theme of God’s divine hand and the gift provided to Mozart is very key. For Mozart, we realize that this perceived gift is a curse for him. Yes, he can write music like dictation without making any changes but he struggles with communication. He speaks, much like Shakespeare in Hamnet, through his art. He works and drinks far too much, but through his work like Don Giovanni we see Mozart seeking forgiveness from his wife. From his father. Yet he is mostly alone. Ultimately the end is the same, but there is further communication between Salieri and Constanza. In both the play and the series, they don’t use the formula of Salieri speaking to a priest in looking to share the history. I think that the film was very effective with this device. Salieri recognizes his mediocrity with God only providing him the ability to recognize the greatness of another and proceeds to thank God sarcastically. Salieri for all his faults, reflects the reality for most of humanity. In fact he was even more accomplished than most. He wanted immortality and fame. He wanted to be remembered forever. But so very few of us actually have this kind of impact on the world. At one point the Emperor states that he was thankful to have lived in a time of Mozart and his music. The Emperor was thankful for his small part in revealing Mozart’s talents. He as an Emperor still recognized his limited impact on the world and his place in it. This TV series is yet another interpretation. I am glad that I saw it even though I feel as though I was immersed in Mozart and his life for a weekend.

Spencer: This 2021 movie for me was bypassed because I hadn’t heard very good things about it. I am also not a big Kristin Stewart fan, and so it just didn’t appeal. But this was a movie available on Crave I figured that I would give it a shot after some passage of time. The time didn’t help it. Stewart plays Princess Diana, nee Diana Spencer. It covers a few days around the Christmas period in 1991. Diana is arriving at the Royal palace Sandringham House where the Queen and the family are gathering. She has the boys at the Palace and they are teens for William and just likely below that for Harry. William can sense some tenseness with his mother. Over the course of the three days, where there is very little interaction with Prince Charles we see a number of things that have been spoken about regarding the Princess including her battle with bulemia. Cruelly at a breakfast Charles says to his wife that kitchen staff have gone through great pains to make a lovely meal for them all, and it would be nice if she could refrain from flushing it all down the toilet.

The producers have taken great pains to ensure that Stewart looks, sounds and dresses the part. She wears many clothes that Diana had worn, and she has the haircut down. She also has some of Diana’s more shy mannerisms down. What surprises me and is more than a little offputting is the portrayal as Diana as this frail, impertinent, mentally unstable woman looking to be on the verge of a breakdown. She has the staff in the Palace on edge worrying about her, and what she might do next. From leaving her Porsche on the way in to take the jacket off a scarecow, to demanding that a woman who helped her dress is returned from London straight away (where’s Maggie?), to wander aimlessly around an abandoned house nearby. The gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve with the Queen, and she is upset that the large pearl necklace that she was given from Charles is one she has already noticed that Camilla wears. She has never been in this relationship with just Charles, ever.

She is shown to be a loving mother, when she isn’t acting strangely. She interrupts the boys learning how to shoot pheasant on the grounds as she can’t abide by the boys killing wildlife. Charles for his part stays away, but when pressed will take the less difficult path and relent to Diana’s whims. The Queen is less sympathetic and will notice Diana’s lack of eating at mealtime, or will be mildly upset as she is the last person to arrive for family Christmas pictures. All this is a very small window into the very large life of this Princess. Much is crammed into it, but I don’t like seeing this portrayal of her. I imagine that the boys William and Harry would appreciate this side of their mother being shown to the world, if this is in fact how their Mother was. There is a scene where after a testy dinner for Diana she has gone down to the kitchen refrigerators and started to eat the items prepared for the next day. The head butler stops by the check in on her, which she rightfully rejects the intrusion. For him, he is there to protect the Crown, and the image of the Crown and he reminds her about a number of things (like changing clothes away from windows). The concept is brought home better throughout the series The Crown when we see through all of the Royal Family’s lives that a good portion of them is the State and for the people. It can be a difficult existence despite all the trappings that on first blush appear to be so glamourous. Diana has been gone a long time, and her life was far too short and full of drama. I wish that she hadn’t had to go through all of this, and for her boys’ sake I wish that she had stayed around longer. This movie, however, I do not feel that I should recommend.

At the end of this movie, there is the picture above with Diana wearing an OPP baseball cap. As a Canadian and Torontonian, it was fun seeing the Ontario Provincial Police cap on her! Some unexpected Canadian content!

May 6th, 2019 (Classics – Top 3)

This past week I have been away and lamenting the fact there aren’t any movies that I care to see or spend money on at the theatre. I am also recognizing that many of my favourite films are ones I have seen long ago and haven’t been reviewed here. I was asked just a couple days ago what memorable movies have I watched lately and I was hard pressed to think of many. It is easier to back into my own personal archives in my head to come up with favourite movies. So as a result I will take some time to talk about films that are on the top of my list. Typically when I am asked about my favourite film I will say that I have three. There are lists that were noted earlier in my writing. The top ones haven’t changed. But let me expand upon the selections and why.
Shawshank Redemption is a choice that I have discussed before usually referring to other films or lists. To me, this is really a film about friendship and hope. Having just spent a few days with a really good friend, I value this tremendously. Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is a young banker and accused of murdering his wife, who had announced she was divorcing him. He is found guilty and sent to a Maine prison in the 40s. He meets up with “Red”, played brilliantly by Morgan Freeman. Most, if not all readers, will know the plot from here as Andy goes through his time at Shawshank. These two men and others around them find the value of hope, and friendship as well as being “institutionalized”. There is drama and suspense and an unexpected resolution. I think I am most moved by one the closing scenes with Red. Andy has made a request of him and he looks to fulfill it. In that moment when an uncertain leap of faith has materialized a lifeline is given. Hope. This is an old reliable film that I can watch time and again. Each time it moves me even though I know where the story is going. The performances are universally solid. The warden, the chief of the guards (Mr Hadley) and the librarian are all very good. This is a film on the top of many people’s lists that I know, both men and women. It surprises me a little about women since they are not represented here for the story. But I think a good story is still a good story. See it if you haven’t. See it again if you haven’t in a while.

Jaws I re-saw just at the end of December on the big screen at TIFF Lightbox as part of a special presentation. I brought my youngest son. We had Jaws t-shirts on and watched in a crowded theatre. This for me is two stories. There is the small town drama in the beginning for the town council to make a tough decision about beaches being closed during the beginning of peak summer holiday season. But once made, it turns into an adventure on the sea with nature playing chess with man. It is a master directorial effort by Steven Spielberg in the film that made his career. With a wonky and temperamental mechanical shark in real life, he found ways for the viewer to believe the shark was there. Barrels and music were key contributors. Colourful Quint (Robert Shaw) and his story of the USS Indianapolis adds to the seriousness but there are a few laughs along the way. I saw this film multiple times in the theatre when it first came out as a kid. I had a memorable plastic shark given as a stocking stuffer that year for Christmas. I can watch this film time and again. I still have a bucket list item to try and see a great white (or other big shark) up close in their territory. Quite simply the beginning of summer blockbusters and the remarkable film career for Steven Spielberg.

Finally I have Amadeus as a third favourite. I also saw this not too long ago when it played with a live orchestra at the Toronto Hummingbird Centre. What a performance! For me I am in awe of the creative process and Mozart remains one of the world’s foremost composers ever. He was a rock star of his age, but most think of those composers as stuffy and serious performing “boring” music. It is far from it. Mozart was creating new and remarkable works that stand the test of time. When Sir Neville Marriner the music director for Academy of St Martins in the Fields was asked about being part of this film (it was a play first) he said he was interested but only if “not one note of the music was changed”. It wasn’t. And the music is another character in the movie. Listen how Antonio Salieri speaks about the Mozart music he hears and sees on the page. He is a rival, he wants to be famous himself, but he is angry at God for not giving him the talent. He can only recognize the incarnation. He represents the “Everyman” who puts in his time and then fades away. I think the by-play between the two men is remarkable. F. Murray Abraham won the Oscar for this performance defeating Tom Hulce. He is amazing. It is a performance of a lifetime and one he landed right after finishing with Scarface. There are some funny stories about filming in Prague in the early 80s. Milos Forman the director was a native Czech who was just returning to his homeland having fled the Communists. Not many films show the creative process. Fewer still can reflect it as well on such a timeless subject as this one. Is this story true? No. There are plenty of accounts that suggest that Salieiri was not in any involved in the death of Mozart. Still the story is is relatable and compelling. It is truly heartbreaking to see the great musical genius taken away at such an early age. One wonders what further masterpieces he would have made. This film showcasing his talent is just another one.

Halloween 2016 – October 31

I have not been to the theatre in some time – there has been so very little to see. Some films that I anticipated and were excited about (like Girl on the Train, and Inferno) turned out to be less than well reviewed. So I have been back at Netflix, along with watching Season 2 of Game of Thrones.

The movie was The Man Who Knew Infinity with Jeremy Irons and Dev Patel. In it, there is told the story that was referred to in Good Will Hunting. In Good Will Hunting the two professors are talking about how great Will could be and exciting math comes from unexpected places. This is the story of the unknown self taught Indian genius, Srinivasa Ramanujan. The era was around the First World War and the young man is married in India and it takes some time before people see his genius in Math. They suggest sending some excerpts of his work to England. From there his journey begins.

Irons plays a prof who is obsessed by Math, but also doing “proofs” and showing the work. He presses the genius to show the proofs and won’t publish him (as initially promised) until he does.

Where the movie fell down for me is the importance of a fellowship from the school, where he would become the youngest fellow and become more part of the University. But who cares? Why does he care? Seems even with struggling health that there is his looking for validation from the white people. His genius surpasses all of them, but he still wants this and yearns for it apparently. I saw this as a movie at TIFF, but was glad to see it. Moreso than Lady in the Van. Worth a viewing, but no need to pay big bucks for it.

This past weekend I did see Amadeus Live with a real orchestra and choir to play the music from the film. It was very well done. Hearing Mozart with the orchestra and also seeing it with an audience was a treat. From the laughter and the moving moments, you could feel this film from the perspective of one who had not seen it before. I was glad that I saw the advertisement for this outside the ROM a couple weeks back. This remains one of my favourite films of all time, and is likely the best film I could think of to see with a live orchestra. They are doing E.T. in a while but to me hearing John Williams’ score live is not the same as Mozart.

July 27th, 2015

This week was a catch up on Netflix. I saw Maze Runner (previously reviewed by you) and then also Mockingjay. Last night I watched the extended Directors Cut of Amadeus on BluRay.

Maze Runner I started watching this in the thinking I would watch an hour and turn it off before bed, but then watched the entire thing. It was, as you say, not as disappointing as expected. The bullying red haired kid I couldn’t get the We’re The Millers scene with the spider out of my head — but never mind. This was better than I thought and held my attention. I will not run out for the sequel, and the ending was disappointing with Patricia Clarkson as the Kate Winslet (Divergent) or Donald Sutherland (Hunger Games) acting as the Dictator baddy.

Mockingjay. OMG was this a waste of time. I was waiting for something, ANYTHING, to happen here. If the entire 2 hours will hinge on itty-bitty Pita, then you lose me. He is just so not important in the grand scheme of things. Give JLaw some kick ass moments and have her do something. This and her black hair, are just not it. BTW, not for a MOMENT do I believe that an arrow shot from the ground (no matter what is on the tip) does it take out two jet fighters. Yawn!

Amadeus is a fav of mine and in my top 5 list of all time. I love seeing the creative process and the performances are excellent, least of all Academy Award winner F Murray Abraham. The extended version on Blu Ray has more scenes added, and a sideline story with Soliari making a pass at Mozart’s wife (Costanza). There is other dialogue added, and I think the extra scenes added very little. Mozart sitting with a young student with dogs was unnecessary. As well as him going back to beg for work. A great film that did not need the extra scenes.

[Alison warned me about Mockingjay and it being a cash grab – my response]

I had known that you warned me away from Mockingjay. I watched because it was on NetFlix and sometimes you just can’t say No when when there is NOTHING else to watch. So I did. And you were proven absolutely correct. I really want Pita to take a bullet. No wee-man like this is worthy of the time and attention paid to him like this guy. Why risk all those lives to get this dwarf?

I saw Divergent in the theatre and was under-whelmed. I like Shailene Woodley, from her breakthrough performance in The Descendants as the elder daughter. I like her in longer hair and wish she didn’t have to copy EVERYTHING that JLaw does. But besides that, the first movie was slow and weak and did not really hold my attention. Woodley and “Four” (now there’s a truly DUMB name for a potential hero) had no chemistry whatsoever in the first. All these futuristic movies are blending into each other, from Hunger Games to Maze Runner, to Divergent to Ender’s Game. There is always some punk kid that civilization, if not the UNIVERSE needs to put our faith into, and adults are all idiots or maniacs focused on running the world as a tyrant. I am pleased to hear that Part 2 is better. It HAD to be. Woodley is a good actress and think that she could carry a film or franchise – JLaw can without a doubt but she was given no material in Mockingjay. Throw her a flippin’ bone!

I re-watched Man of Steel the other night too. Still can’t get over the flying penises for putting baddies in a black hole. In hindsight, just leave them in a cell as the whole planet blows up a few hours later. Problem solved!!! No mess for Kal El to clean up either. And the whole Lois Lane thing drives me bananas!! Evil alien wants to take care of Kal El, but Oh, just for fun he wants the red haired girl too. What are you doing? You ask for her to accompany Supe, and then proceed to ignore her!!! As she speaks to Supe’s Old Man, and figures out a way (“I can do it!”) to kill the aliens and the ship! Amazing!! Ridiculous!!!!

I am watching Weeds, and the ticky tacky episodes. I like her. Also like Elizabeth Perkins too! It is funny, and a poor man’s Breaking Bad, but far less intense. I am also getting through Season 3 of Home Land.