Overview: Amadeus triumphs as gripping human drama, sumptuous period epic, glorious celebration of the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – and as the winner of eight 1984 Academy Awards, including Best Picture (produced by Saul Zaentz), Actor (F. Murray Abraham), Director (Milos Forman) and Adapted Screenplay (Peter Shaffer).

It’s 1781 and Antonio Salieri (Abraham) is the competent court composer to Emperor Joseph II. When Mozart (Academy Award nominee Tom Hulce) arrives at court, Salieri is horrified to discover that the musical gifts he desires for himself have been bestowed on a bawdy, impish jokester. Mad with envy, he plots to destroy Mozart by any means. Perhaps even murder!

4K Blu-ray Verdict: Simply put, Amadeus is one of the greatest movies ever made! There, I said it. And I mean it. And now, luckily for us all, Warner Bros. Entertainment is expanding their 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray catalog offerings this month with the release of this highly-anticipated Amadeus (4K Ultra HD + Digital) in the expansive 4K Ultra HD video format this February 25th, 2025.

For my money, this Amadeus (4K Ultra HD + Digital) sharpness takes a fairly large step forward from others in their 4K Ultra HD catalog and even comes with HDR (High Dynamic Range) for the complete 4K Ultra HD experience, of course.

So, what we have is Amadeus presented to us as a one-disc with a sheet for a Digital HD Copy. Other stand out points you should know are: Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: Native 4K (2160p), HDR: HDR10, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1 and Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1.

Featuring Dolby Vision and HDR10 for brighter, deeper, and way more lifelike colors, as with most all 4K UHDs, everything that we watch features these qualities - but somehow, this film gloriously shines within them all.

Noticeably crisp with the overall clarity receiving an obvious boost here on this release, what is more is that it is enjoyably noticeable. For as well as some new nuances to the somewhat drab palette courtesy of Dolby Vision, we also get to witness sudden bright pops of color, which makes the eyes draw in, for sure.

To pick one outstanding scene to epitomize this is very hard, but if forced to, it would be when Mozart is dictating the notes to Salieri, he gets confused and can not keep up with Mozart. But instead of hate, he feels amazed, amazed for seeing such a beautiful composition gaining life right before his eyes. An amazing scene, beautifully directed and masterfully acted.

As for the audio, well we get English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0 (48kHz, 24-bit), French: Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1.

Overall, this is a very strong 4K HDR Blu-ray presentation, and, for the most part, the audio track remains fairly similar to its DTS-HD counterpart; with much of the action occupying the surrounds with outstanding directionality and placement where effects flawlessly pan between the sides and rears.

OK, back to the movie, and in simplistic terms, Amadeus presents a heavily fictionalized, speculative portrayal of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s last years, focusing powerfully on his relationship with Italian composer Anthony Saliere, and Mozart’s wife, Constanzia.

Do not approach this movie looking for some objective presentation of historic fact. Do not go into this film expecting to see a tribute to one of the world’s greatest composers. Do not see Amadeus in order to understand the workings of musical genius. Inasmuch as all of these are incomprehensible - probably as much to those who lived them as they are today - Amadeus fails to achieve any of these laudable goals.

However, what is does achieve - and quite well - is the blending of elements of Mozart’s personality, aspects of his historical context, and an ingenious plot which is spelled out in a very clever narrative style. The truth you get out of Amadeus - as with most good historical fiction films and novels, is the truth of the feeling of a particular time and place.

Amadeus immerses its audience in Europe’s 18th century, but has just enough anachronism in its script to prevent losing its audience there. Mozart is a young prodigy who struggles with his own ego, over-sensitivity, arrogance, and self-destructiveness against a world which does not really know what to make of him.

Salieri (Abraham) is his most ardent fan and admirer, but harbors a deep personal and professional jealousy, as well as an overwhelming self-centered guilt, and an even deeper conviction that his own perceived inadequacies reflect on his relationship to his creator.

The third character, much better developed in the director’s cut than in previous versions, is Mozart’s wife Constanzia (Berridge) - seemingly the only fully rational and practical person among the principal roles. The film narrates the twists and turns of fate - the intrigues and folklore - which, even today tend to crowd out the facts of this part of Mozart’s life.

Hulce, playing Mozart in what is easily his greatest performance to date, utters a couple of highly anachronistic and off-color remarks in the course of the film. Since I do not hold historical fictio to some arbitrary standard of authenticity, I can say that my reaction to these was probably exactly as they were intended: (1) Either Mozart was so creatively explosive that he occasionally happened upon 20th century phraseology through sheer coincidence, and/or (2) We are supposed to find these phrases a little shocking and they are used as plot devices to give the film a sense of surreal ambiance.

Either way, the film works very well as a work of art and a good story, and what some describe as problems of authenticity are, to my mind, nothing more than artistic license. Most movies are not meant to be encyclopedic recitations of what really happened. Keep that in mind before you commit to watching this. The only danger with regard to this film is that it is SO compellingly portrayed that some people are likely to walk away from it believing that this REALLY is what happened.

Nevertheless, F. Murray Abraham, who almost always does well, exceeds himself in this film, and well deserved his Oscar. Hulce is remarkable and the supporting cast are easily up to the task. The directing is subtle enough to be somewhat refreshingly unnoticeable, and the script and editing are excellent (at least in the director’s cut). Very little can be said about the use of period music and costume which has not been said in the numerous awards and the high praise received from critics down the year, but suffice to say that it is incredible, sumptuous and highly alluring throughout.

Amadeus Digital release and Ultra HD Blu-ray disc contain the following new and previously released special features:
· The Making of Amadeus (New)
· Amadeus: The Making of a Masterpiece

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the epic historical film’s 8 Academy Awards, Amadeus, from acclaimed director Milos Forman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), will be available for the first time Digitally in 4K Ultra HD and on 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc on February 25th, 2025.

One of the most celebrated films in cinematic history, the theatrical version of Amadeus will be available to purchase on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc online and in-store at major retailers and available Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Fandango at Home and more.