Amadeus (1984) Rerelease: F Murray Abraham’s Deliciously Villainous Mozart Rival Returns

Remember when movie baddies had proper class? Before supervillains were busy destroying fictional cities, F Murray Abraham was teaching us how to serve up spite with a side of sophistication. Now, with Amadeus getting a spanking new theatrical release for 2025, it’s time to revisit what might just be the poshest bit of villainy ever committed to celluloid.

The OG Toxic Frenemy: Why Salieri Still Slaps

Let’s be honest – we’ve all had that mate who’s just a bit too good at everything. But while most of us just quietly seethe over Sandra’s perfect sourdough on Instagram, Salieri took professional jealousy to Oscar-worthy heights. Abraham’s performance as the mediocre composer watching Mozart’s genius eclipse his own is like watching a masterclass in passive-aggressive rage.

Having caught this rerelease at a packed screening in Leicester Square last week, I can confirm: Abraham’s seething Salieri hits different in 2025. In our era of carefully curated social media personas, watching someone properly lose the plot over their rival’s success feels wonderfully refreshing. Plus, those withering looks would absolutely slay on TikTok.

Tom Hulce’s Mozart: The Original Chaotic Creative

Before we had Pete Davidson living rent-free in everyone’s heads, Tom Hulce gave us a Mozart who was essentially a Georgian-era rockstar. That infamous giggle (which sounds like he’s been at the nitrous oxide) would be prime meme material today. Yet it’s the contrast between his raw talent and Abraham’s controlled malevolence that makes their dynamic properly electric.

From Amadeus to The White Lotus: Abraham’s Villainous Victory Lap

Here’s a mad thing: watching Abraham in The White Lotus recently, you’d swear he’d found the fountain of youth in Salieri’s chocolate stash. The man’s still serving sophisticated menace like it’s going out of style. While he never quite landed another role as juicy as Salieri, his recent renaissance proves some actors, like fine wine, just get better with age.

FAQ: Your Amadeus Questions Answered

Is Amadeus historically accurate?

Not entirely, mate. While Mozart and Salieri were real composers who knew each other, the whole murderous rivalry thing was mostly dramatic license. Think of it as the 18th-century equivalent of those “based on true events” Netflix docudramas.

Why did F Murray Abraham win the Oscar for this role?

Have you seen the way he makes eating a chocolate truffle look sinister? In all seriousness, Abraham’s transformation from young, ambitious composer to bitter old man is properly phenomenal. The Academy loves that sort of range, and rightly so.

Is the 2025 rerelease worth seeing in cinemas?

Absolutely. The restored print makes every poisonous glance and gilded palace shine like new money. Plus, the soundtrack on proper cinema speakers? Proper goosebumps material.

The Final Movement

In a world of CGI baddies and cartoonish supervillains, Abraham’s Salieri reminds us that sometimes the most compelling antagonists are the ones who serve their revenge with impeccable manners and a side of chocolate. The 2025 rerelease of Amadeus isn’t just a trip down memory lane – it’s a masterclass in how to be properly villainous.

Whether you’re a classical music buff or just enjoy watching someone have an absolutely magnificent breakdown, get yourself to a cinema sharpish. Just maybe skip the chocolate treats during the film – they might taste a bit suspicious.