Amadeus [* * * * *]

Who doesn't love Mozart? The boy who was writing entire symphonies by the time he was 12, who could play the piano lying on his back. My personal favorite is Don Giovanni (a dark driven piece written after the death of his exacting father).

Virtually every tune comes from an analytical mind expressing emotions - what a rare combination! Composing that emotion for instrument and voice within a theme - opera, symphony, etc. How rare a gift.

Tunes of such timelessness that they're used today all over without recognition - reversing cars play them, childrens toys have it on, the advertisers and elevator music, it's almost always Mozart.

Now this is what I like about him: He heard the music in his head, complete, and he said the rest was just 'scribbling' it down. Completeness reaches into a common psyche that touches everyone alike.

I'm inclined more and more to categorizing music by it's composing source. Drug-addicted singers are making stunning music, but best appreciated in a drug-induced state; alcoholics make superb music which other alcoholics will cry to; chaste and humble worship music will appeal to the chaste and humble (but not to the vile and proud) etc., until you reach pure genius which breaks through to the unconscious and brings out whole music which everyone can appreciate.

In the movie, for the first time though, we see the great composer in a different light - through the eyes of a less-talented rival, Salieri, who later claimed to have driven Mozart to his death. I didn't quite like having to view Mozart through an envious, petty, scheming, mediocre mind - it frightens me - like a warning that it would take a very average schemer to bring down a finer mind - just like the mediocres around IRL who triumph through little acts of perfidy.

Watching the movie was like seeing how genius works. A must-see for any lover of music.:)