Amadeus
It would be criminal to label Amadeus as a film about music. It is a brilliant analysis of the nature of great talent and of mediocrity and above all, jealousy, that most characteristic and peculiar of all human qualities, the most wretched sin, the source of all malevolence. Although historically inaccurate in many ways, we can grant Milos Forman his artistic license for beautifully dramatizing this difficult subject.

“I will speak for you, Father. I speak for all mediocrities in the world. I am their champion. I am their patron saint.”

Even if you are not a fan of my main man Mozart and his deceptively simple and divinely playful melodies, you should watch the movie for the utterly perfectly portrayed Antonio Salieri and his raging jealousy for Mozart’s facile musical ability. He is the real hero of this tale, the patron saint for all mediocrities in the world. The high point of the film is the intensely theatrical and cathartic scene where Salieri declares his war against God, addressing to a crucifix: “From now on we are enemies, You and I. Because You choose for Your instrument a boastful, lustful, smutty, infantile boy and give me for reward only the ability to recognize the incarnation. Because You are unjust, unfair, unkind, I will block You, I swear it. I will hinder and harm Your creature on earth as far as I am able.”

Next in Great Films About Music: This is Spinal Tap!