Amadeus (1984) - 4K Ultra HD評価

      **Amadeus, 1984.

      Directed by Miloš Forman.

      Featuring F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow, Roy Dotrice, Christine Ebersole, Jeffrey Jones, and Charles Kay.**

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      The 1984 classic *Amadeus*, directed by Miloš Forman and written by Peter Shaffer, is now available for the first time in 4K Ultra HD, though this release contains only the theatrical version and the bonus features are somewhat limited. Nevertheless, this exceptional film is well worth revisiting, making this edition highly recommended.

      *Amadeus* may be my favorite biopic largely due to Peter Shaffer’s screenplay, which diverges significantly from the actual lives of its two central characters, centered around the main theme: “Life isn’t fair, particularly in creative pursuits.” The intention is not to provide a factual account of their lives — if that's what you seek, a documentary would be more suitable.

      The two protagonists are Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce), a remarkably talented yet impulsive and reckless composer, and Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), the court composer for Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II (Jeffrey Jones) and a proficient musician himself.

      The narrative unfolds in flashback as an aged Salieri, who has attempted suicide, is confined to a psychiatric hospital and confesses his tumultuous relationship with Mozart to a priest, Father Vogler (Richard Frank). From their first encounter, Salieri harbors a deep resentment towards Mozart, his perceived rival, who not only possesses immense talent but also an annoying high-pitched laugh and a voracious appetite for women and alcohol.

      Mozart remains oblivious to Salieri's animosity, leading him to confide in his older counterpart about his struggles. This sets the stage for what Salieri sees as his chance for revenge on Mozart: he disguises himself in an outfit reminiscent of one worn by Mozart's late father and commissions a Requiem Mass from the younger composer.

      Overburdened with writing what would become *The Magic Flute*, Mozart nonetheless immerses himself in this new work. Salieri hopes that Mozart's unresolved issues stemming from his relationship with his father will ultimately lead to his demise during the process, enabling Salieri to perform the Requiem Mass at Mozart’s funeral and take credit for it. This plan is diabolical and, unsurprisingly, exposes the destructive nature of Salieri’s feelings.

      Indeed, *Amadeus* takes considerable liberties with factual events, starting with the unlikely premise that Salieri was significantly affected by Mozart at all, especially since he was an accomplished composer at the time. However, anyone engaged in artistic endeavors might resonate with the frustration of encountering others whose talents appear far superior, compounded by some irritating personality traits.

      This brings us back to the theme previously mentioned: “Life isn’t fair, particularly in creative fields.” Is there someone whose talents seem divinely gifted and who has achieved more success than I have? (In my case, as a fiction writer.)

      There certainly is, but I strive to focus on my individual journey instead of worrying about others, to avoid succumbing to the same dark path chosen by Salieri.

      This new 4K Ultra HD edition marks the film's first appearance in this format, although it presents only the theatrical version, as opposed to the director’s cut that was available on DVD in 2002 and has been the only version on home video since. I don’t have a strong preference for one version over the other — even if those additional 20 minutes in the director's cut aren't essential, I appreciate spending more time in that narrative world.

      As a film that won eight Oscars, the theatrical version was restored in 4K last year by the Academy Film Archive and The Saul Zaentz Co. Restoration. It looks magnificent. Anyone who criticizes a soft image should remember that many of the indoor scenes were lit solely by candlelight, making it impossible for this film to achieve the clarity found in other 4K remastered films.

      You also receive a code for a digital copy, although the bonus features are somewhat lacking. If you’re a fan of *Amadeus*, you might want to hold on to older editions because the only extras included are the 2002 featurette *The Making of Amadeus*, which lasts 60 minutes, and a new 23-minute featurette titled *Amadeus: The Making of a Masterpiece*.

      The former is essentially a relic from another era, where a series of short featurettes are generally seen as adequate for a film on disc. It offers an in-depth look at the film’s journey from conception to release and its eventual significance in film history.

      The new featurette includes discussions with cast members F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Simon Callow, and Christine Ebersole, along with