ellieforpeace

I wouldn't stop myself saying that Amadeus is one of the finest movies ever made. It is perfect in every way.

Part of it is the subject matter. It is about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the famous composer. Of course, it lends itself to be the vessel of some of the finest music ever written. Mozart was a genius, but, much like his music, his entire career was filled with superfluities. For every Don Giovanni, there is a piece that should have been forgotten. But the movie is only three hours, so it showcases only the best of Mozart.

It is a very fictional movie, one in which a mediocre composer, Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), fawns over Mozart (Tom Hulce), envies his talent and plots his downfall and death. The academy loved the 1984 movie, giving it 8 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role for F. Murray Abraham (though I believe Tom Hulce deserves it more), Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay from the play of the same name. The reason I say that Tom Hulce deserves the Oscar over F. Murray Abraham is not because Abraham didn't give a brilliant and nuanced performance, it's that Hulce simply is Mozart. Like Ben Kingsley is forevermore the face of Gandhi and Sean Penn is Harvey Milk. There are some roles people will always be, and that is the way it is. When people think of these real people, they see these actors instead. And also, this, of course, is a period piece. But it is arguably the most interesting you will ever see. It is light, it is dark, dramatic, romantic, beautiful and human. It is balanced, and that is really what makes a perfect movie.

Each piece of this film is vital. All three hours. Every second is perfect. Every note is in place. The editing is tight, genius. Each element lends itself to the whole, and to the detail. Look at the movie for pleasure, and you'll be rewarded. Scrutinize it and you'll be amazed even more. There's nothing not to love about this movie. When you sit there, after three long hours, and want even more, there's something very, very special about the movie.

This is a perfect piece of cinema.

I belong to the same group as Woody Allen and Nietzsche. I wouldn't want to belong to a club that would have me in it. This attitude pervades my life. It includes clubs, relationships, and movies among other things probably. For example, I hesitated to give this, my most favorite movie in the world four stars. I thought, since it is an enjoyable movie, one I enjoyed, I can't give it four stars. I wanted to give it three and a half. But I just watched it for maybe the twentieth time, and I absolutely had to give it four stars.

Four stars does not mean it is perfect. This film is not perfect. I can't describe many movies as perfect. But there are many flawless parts of this movie.

Let me start over with the recapitulation. This movie starts with Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) writing abysmally about Valentine's Day on a snowy beach after he skips work for no reason and falling in love with a woman he has just seen. Oddly, she introduces herself to him, Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet), and though she is immediately strange and exotic and Joel is introverted and boring, they hit it off immediately. For the first twenty minutes. And then there's a snapback. You're ripped from the plot and you realize that you haven't seen the opening credits yet, and you watch them as Joel sobs in his car.

And the movie starts in on this crazy plot with purposeful amnesia, love, and all sorts of other human things.

This is a Charlie Kaufman movie, and if you don't know what that means, then you don't know indie movies (but that's okay. Just make sure you get to know Kaufman). He is a crazy, insane genius screenwriter (see Adaptation, Being John Malkovich, Synecdoche, New York) and his mind is a wonderland. Michel Gondry is a French genius, a director who doesn't seem to direct, but lives within the movie (see The Science of Sleep, Be Kind, Rewind). Both of them are perfect in the film, and it is great that they were the two to make the commentary on the DVD.

Kate Winslet gives the performance of her life in this movie. She disappears. Clementine takes over. There is no trace of Kate Winslet, or Rose from Titanic, or Marianne from Sense and Sensibility. She is fantastic. I cannot praise her performance in this movie enough. Jim Carrey also disappears. You forget Ace Ventura and every movie he ever made. This is his best performance ever. The other "stars" of the movie in its subplot are Tom Wilkinson, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, and Mark Ruffalo. They are all amazing, with perhaps the exception of Mark Ruffalo, who is simply fitting. But even he fit wonderfully. (Side note: This movie features my favorite actor and actress, Tom Wilkinson and Kate Winslet)

This movie is affecting. That's it. Affecting. It's modern. It takes place NOW, although it could take place anytime. But it's odd for great movies to take place NOW. So often they are placed in another place or time, but this movie is here and now, in your face, so relevant, and it has the feel that it could never be irrelevant. The effects are sparse and perfect when the come, subtle, and helpful, but not a focus at all, the way they are supposed to be.

The music is quite good an fits well. It is quirky and playful in a movie that is often just that.

More than anything, this movie is a good friend. After seeing this for the twentieth time or so, I can quote nearly every line. I can laugh. I couldn't laugh at it the first time. Now it is hilarious, a real situational comedy. Yet, it is more touching each time. It's like a fine wine that only gets better with age.

I would recommend this movie to anyone. Children, old people. Young people in new relationships, old people who have been married fifty years. Everyone.