Yes. I definitely recognize that the movie is 90% fiction. And poor Salieri. However, the film does a great depiction of the seething jealousy of a mediocrity and the extents he will go through to undermine the genius.

It’s the same as if I were writing a popular article about psychopathic serial killers, and using Hannibal Lecter as an example. He’s a fictional character inspired by several real life ones — but of course still fiction. But one can still use these pop culture memes to illustrate a valid point.