Amadeus - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Their music may seem highbrow by contemporary standards, but back in the 18th and 19th centuries, popular classical composers were the rock stars of their day, often achieving great wealth and privilege and engendering the admiration of everyone from peasants to kings. Though many were serious, aloof, and square, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, perhaps more than any of his peers, embraced the role. He partied, spent frivolously, and died young under mysterious circumstances.

Artists blessed with such enviable gifts often live outside the norm, and attempting to connect Mozart's quirks and idiosyncrasies to his lofty musical legacy undoubtedly inspired many Mozart biographies, as well as one unforgettable drama. Amadeus may perpetuate the legends and myths that swirl about this musical icon, but Milos Forman's film adaptation celebrates the composer's genius so completely that anyone who sees this Oscar-winning work will take away one emotion above all others – awe.

Which is exactly what rival composer Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) feels when he first comes in contact with Mozart (Tom Hulce) at the court of Austria's emperor, Joseph II (Jeffrey Jones). Salieri's only dream is to create sublime music that will be revered by the masses both in his lifetime and well beyond, yet he's stymied by a limited talent and growing obsession with the "giggly, dirty-minded creature" who consistently eclipses him. That creature, of course, is Mozart, a self-confessed vulgar man, who's also a living conduit for some of the most beautiful music the world has yet heard. Finished symphonies reside in his "noodle," and he effortlessly transcribes them without alteration or correction, almost, Salieri says, as if he's taking dictation.

Humility, however, isn't a trait many geniuses possess, and Mozart's arrogance – coupled with an annoying, effeminate guffaw and an immature attitude about everything except music – alienates those around him, especially Salieri. Mozart also doesn't hide his disdain for mediocrity, and that includes Salieri's compositions, which he attacks with a barrage of stinging barbs that rapidly turn the court composer's jealousy into hatred.

Salieri's quarrel, however, isn't just with Mozart; it's also with God, who he damns for instilling in him a passion for music but cruelly withholding the tools to create immortal works. "Why would God choose an obscene child to be his instrument?" Salieri laments. And why would He use that child to torment the hard-working, pious Salieri so unrelentingly? To retaliate against both the spirit that wronged him and the human that exposes his shortcomings, Salieri influences the emperor to block lucrative teaching positions for Mozart and limit the exposure his symphonies and operas receive. Eventually, Salieri becomes so consumed with envy that he hatches a deranged, potentially violent scheme to steal Mozart's glory, inflate his own reputation, and stick it to a God that has forever delighted in torturing him.

Amadeus is largely fictitious, but it cleverly takes seeds of truth and grows them into a compelling, substantive narrative. Both Mozart and especially Salieri are well-drawn, complex creations, and Peter Shaffer (who won a Tony Award for his play and an Oscar for his adapted screenplay) instills in them a multitude of conflicting qualities. We admire Mozart, but it's hard to like him; we can relate to Salieri, yet can't condone his reprehensible actions. What makes Salieri such a marvelous character is that despite all his ill will, it's impossible for him to temper his unabashed wonder over the perfection of Mozart's music. Sure, he takes glee in sabotaging Mozart, but he's also the composer's biggest fan. And tragically, the pure, simple beauty of Mozart's notes and phrases – music that elevates so many – plunges Salieri's soul into darkness.

Forman and Shaffer transform a rather simple stage play into an epic, injecting Amadeus with pageantry, style, and sophistication, but never letting such elements outshine Mozart's music or the dramatic conflict at the film's core. Throughout its history, Hollywood has struggled to depict composers' lives, but Amadeus finally gets it right by taking a different tack than a standard linear biopic. Most importantly, the music isn't presented as a simple byproduct of Mozart's genius or a pleasant diversion for the audience; it's the most influential character in the drama, driving the actions of both Mozart and Salieri. The Prague locations, lavish costumes, and meticulous set design add immeasurable authenticity, yet Forman makes the atmosphere so relatable, we often forget we're watching a period picture. Today, even more so than when the film was first released 40 years ago, it's easy to see why Amadeus won so many Oscars.

All the acting is terrific, especially Abraham as the tormented, conniving Salieri. His scenes as an elderly man recalling his relationship with Mozart and confessing his sins are riveting and devoid of the affectations so many less talented performers employ when playing "old." Hulce captures Mozart's randy playfulness and sly conceit, as well as his sober sense of purpose and enslavement to music. His silly laugh becomes grating over time, but of course that's the point. As Mozart's commoner wife, Elizabeth Berridge is far better than I remembered her to be and her no-nonsense, rough-around-the-edges personality nicely contrasts with the stuffy, fawning atmosphere of the emperor's court. And in a small supporting role, a teenage Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) makes a notable splash as a naive servant girl Salieri hires to spy on the Mozarts.

On its surface, Amadeus may seem like a story of revenge and bitterness, but it's really about the transformative power of music and how it can shape and twist fragile human psyches. It's a stirring, impeccably produced work and deserving of all the accolades it received.

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Amadeus arrives on 4K UHD packaged in a standard case inside a sleeve. A leaflet containing the code for the Movies Anywhere digitlal copy is tucked inside the front cover. Video codec is 2160p/HEVC H.265 with HDR and audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0. Once the disc is inserted into the player, 

According to the press release for this 4K UHD edition, "The restoration and mastering of the Amadeus original theatrical cut was completed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with the participation of Paul Zaentz," son of producer Saul Zaentz. This 2160p/HEVC H.265 transfer with HDR is a big improvement over the 2009 Blu-ray, with enhanced clarity, better contrast, and bolder color. 

Like the Blu-ray, noticeable grain preserves the film-like feel and suits the period setting well, but never garners undue attention even in dimly lit scenes. The low light often produces a soft look, but the sometimes gauzy appearance is baked into the original negative. Blacks are rich, the white wigs worn by women and men are bright, shadow delineation is quite good, and sharp close-ups showcase glistening sweat, facial hair and stubble, and the blemishes and scars on Abraham's face. There's a lot of color on display – reds are especially lustrous – but the delicate pastels steal the show. Powder blues, sea greens, and lavenders are all exceptionally rendered and the intricate costume patterns and upholsteries are well defined. Stable, true flesh tones predominate and Abraham's heavy makeup as the elderly Salieri looks, for the most part, very natural. If you're an Amadeus fan, you'll definitely want to upgrade.

This 4K UHD edition of Amadeus eschews the excellent Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track from the 2009 digibook release in favor of an equally excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0 track. Amadeus, aurally speaking, has always been all about Mozart's glorious music. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really matter if dialogue is intelligible, surrounds kick in, or effects are distinct; the music needs to be damn near perfect. Without proper dynamic range, tonal depth, and a broad sound field, the impact of Mozart's melodies on Salieri personally and the audience at large would not be nearly as great and the story would suffer. Well, no worries there. As I wrote back in 2009, I can't imagine a better sonic treatment for Mozart's musical canon. From delicate strings to bombastic bursts of brass, from a soprano's trills to a robust basso aria, the track provides exceptionally pure, full-bodied tones with wonderful texture and shadings. Both symphonic and operatic sequences fill the room, immersing the listener in Mozart's playful, elegant, and passionate strains. Close your eyes and you'll swear you've been transported to a cavernous concert hall.

During dramatic scenes, the audio is anchored up front, but noticeable separation enlivens the action, while subtle ambient effects occasionally grace the rears. Dialogue is very well prioritized, so we rarely miss a word of Shaffer's Oscar-winning adaptation, and details such as the palace's squeaky wood floors, horse hooves on snow, crackling papers, and the ruffling of the layered period clothing are all vividly rendered. Aside from a few potent rumbles during the Don Giovanni segment, the subwoofer is almost silent, but low end bass is gorgeous whenever the music dips into that register and, conversely, even the highest soprano notes resist distortion.

The documentary from the 2009 Blu-ray has been ported over to this UHD release, but the audio commentary that complemented the director's cut has (understandably) been dropped, as well as the theatrical trailer and audio compilation of Mozart compositions. In their stead is a brand new featurette about the making of the movie.

• Featurette: "Amadeus: The Making of a Masterpiece" (UHD, 23 minutes) - Abraham, Hulce, Callow, Ebersole, and various crew members, all of whom look like they recorded their comments over Zoom, reminisce about the production, the charisma and artistry of Forman, shooting in Prague during the Cold War, various locations, among other topics in this interesting but rather dry 2024 featurette.

• Documentary: "The Making of Amadeus" (HD, 61 minutes) - This straightforward 2002 documentary won't stimulate the senses, but it still imparts plenty of behind-the-scenes information. Refreshingly, all the major players in front of and behind the camera participate and share anecdotes and memories about Amadeus. Forman and Shaffer recall the intense collaboration that spawned the screenplay; all comment on the beauty of the Prague locations and the challenges of filming under a Communist regime; and Abraham recounts his daily four-hour stint in the makeup chair, as well as his detached relationship with Hulce and the rest of the company. We also learn about the constricting costumes, the actors' musical training, and the arduous casting process that included auditions by such diverse stars as Mick Jagger, Sam Waterston, Elizabeth McGovern, Peter MacNicol, and Rebecca DeMornay. In one of the livelier segments, Elizabeth Berridge chronicles how she was brought on board at the eleventh hour after the original Constanze, Meg Tilly, withdrew on the eve of shooting due to a torn ligament.

I said it in 2009 and I'll say it again in 2025: Like Mozart's immortal music, Amadeus hasn't lost its luster. The performances, direction, and production values of this absorbing epic continue to impress four decades after its initial release. The 4K UHD transfer with HDR bursts with renewed clarity and sumptuous color while the crystalline quality of the high-def audio allows us to truly feel Mozart's music as well as hear it. It's a shame the director's cut was not included in this edition, but the superior quality of the video and audio helps ease the pain of that loss. Not all Best Picture winners deserve a spot on your shelf, but Amadeus does, and this 4K UHD edition outclasses every previous home video rendering of this buoyant film. Must Own.