Miloš Forman’s masterly drama of the passions, conspiracies, and messes behind classical music gets a new restoration for its 40th anniversary.
In late 18th century Vienna, Antonio Salieri devotes his life and soul to becoming a great composer – only to see an obnoxious young man called Mozart outperform him. Devastated, he plots to destroy his career and spite God for denying him greatness, leading to ruin for everyone. Already a major director for his Czech comedies and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Forman turned Peter Shaffer’s play into a grand epic of artistic rivalry that still feels modern and funny (Tom Hulce was cast from Animal House, and based his performance on John McEnroe). Besides sound-and-visual improvements, this release brings back the long-unavailable 1985 cut that originally won Best Picture, making it essential viewing.
