Amadeus

Adapted from the giant stage hit, this eight-Oscar film spotlights the clash of wills in 18th century Vienna between two men: composer Mozart (Tom Hulce), a vulgar, licentious popinjay with hyena laugh, but kissed with genius, and Salieri (F Murray Abraham), the court composer whose work Mozart mocks and who, even while he plots his tormentor's destruction, is tortured himself by the knowledge that Mozart is the greatest composer he has ever heard. Looking at the story through Salieri's envy-green eyes is a clever ploy by writer Peter Shaffer and one that works. Mozart is so awful, so much a crass vulgarian, that our instinctive wish is for him to get what he deserves - obscurity. Like Salieri, however, we are pulled both ways by the beauty of his music, so that Shaffer compels us to follow developments to their horrifying conclusion. Salieri is played in masterly style by Abraham (winning one of the film's octet of Academy Awards), conveying inner feelings by eyes, mouth or gesture rather than words. Even so, the film is almost stolen by Jeffrey Jones, plank-thick but inch-perfect as the emperor. Despite the original PG certificate, this is not entirely suitable for younger children.