Amadeus opened

Amadeus Released: September 21, 1984 Studio: Orion Genre: -- Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 51.97 Worldwide: ? Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: 173.50 Worldwide: ?

Directing: Milos Forman Screenwriting: Peter Shaffer Starring: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow, Roy Dotrice, Christine Ebersole, Jeffrey Jones Review: Amadeus is a “stunning, opulent biography” FS of musical prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Hulce), although not 100% accurate. FS It is based on the Broadway play by Peter Shaffer, who adapted his work for an Oscar-winning screenplay. The story focuses on Antonio Salieri (Abraham), the official royal composer for Austrian Emperor Joseph II (Jones). Salieri is consumed with jealousy over the “admiration and respect bestowed on Mozart” VD for his “incredible musical genius”FS while he “struggle[s] with his own mediocrity.” AFI07 “Flashbacks illuminate the mad, energetic brilliance of Mozart,” AFI07 who is “simultaneously spoiled, vulgar and talented.” FS Although Salieri becomes a “hate-filled monster whose only aim in life is to ruin his more talented colleague.” TO’95 Still, he “emerges as the more tragic and sympathetic character, partly because he alone, of all his contemporaries, can appreciate this almost perfect music, and – more importantly, perhaps – because he speaks up for all of us whose talents fall short of our desires.” TO’95 “The film was well-received by both critics and audiences alike with its lavish set and period costume design (filmed on location in Prague), its accessibility and nonpretentiousness, and its sly intelligence and musings over the capricious nature of "God-given" talent.” FS Sources: AFI07 American Film Institute (2007). “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition” FS Filmsite.org “100 Greatest Films” TO’95 Time Out (1995). “Centenary Top One Hundred Films” VD Video Detective (1997). “Top 100 Films of All Time”

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Oscars: Wins: 8, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (F. Murray Abraham), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art/Set Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Sound Nominations: 11, including Best Actor (Tom Hulce), Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing. Other Awards: Other Lists/Honors: First posted 5/28/2023; last updated 5/30/2023.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest released

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Released: November 19, 1975 Studio: United Artists Genre: drama Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 112.00 Worldwide: ? Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: 503.03 Worldwide: ?

Directing: Milos Forman Screenwriting: Bo Goldman, Lawrence Hauben Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Brad Dourif, Will Sampson, Michael Berryman Review: The story, based on the 1962 novel by Ken Kesey, is “a compelling, socially-conscious portrait of mental institution patients pitted against a tyrannical, sinister head nurse.” FS Jack Nicholson is Randle P. McMurphy, “a free-spirited, ebullient, rebellious convict [who] feigns insanity to avoid a jail sentence” FS for statutory rape. He “sparks new life in the downtrodden inmates, giving them purpose and self-worth.” A07 “His heroic, crazed struggles against oppression, conformity and the manipulative, authoritarian nurse symbolize the rebellious ‘60s era.” FS However, he “must call on all his emotional resources to stay sane.” VD “He is taken down and pays the ultimate price for his messianic, outrageous non-conformity with a zombie-producing lobotomy. The strong and silent Indian (Sampson) that he has befriended relieves his pitiful misery.” FS “Art and life entwined in this film…While a mental institution served as the foundation of the story, cast and crew worked with extras and supporting crew members who were actually patients at the Oregon State Mental Hospital.” MSN “One of the best films ever made, with endless classic scenes.” VD Sources: A07 American Film Institute (2007). “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition” FS Filmsite.org “100 Greatest Films” MSN MSN Entertainment (7/19/2018). “100 Best Movies” by Shahnaz Mahmud VD Video Detective (1997). “Top 100 Films of All Time”

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Awards: Oscars: Wins: 5 – including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Nicholson), Best Actress (Fletcher), Best Adapted Screenplay Nominations: 9 – including Best Supporting Actor (Dourif), Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing Other Lists/Honors: Critics’ Picks: Leslie Halliwell/John Walker First posted 8/18/2019; last updated 5/31/2023.