April 12, 2004
Top Movies About Music
The Indepedent gets Jeremy Drysdale, screenwriter of Grand Theft Parsons, to give his top ten films about music, including 24 Hour Party People (number 1), This is Spinal Tap, High Fidelity, Backbeat, Cabaret, The Blues Brothers and Moulin Rouge.
Gothamist agrees with many (but not Moulin Rouge - meh), but would have to consider many others, like Almost Famous, A Star is Born, Amadeus, Hard Day's Night, A Mighty Wind, The School of Rock, plus the genre of movie musicals (Annie, The Muppet Movie, Kiss Me Kate, The Sound of Music) if we came up with our own list. And then there are the movies and filmmakers that aren't about music but their soundtracks change that: Anything by Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, Cameron Crowe, John Hughes, Woody Allen, Spike Lee, and Quentin Tarantino, plus Trainspotting, Brown Sugar, Dazed and Confused, Ocean's Eleven (the remake)...what are we missing?
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You're missing the soundtrack to Tree's Lounge (Shane McGowan and Brenda Lee, on the same soundtrack--hell, yeah!) and the soundtrack to Kids.
Soundtracks... don't forget Out of Sight.
I might be the only one, but I love the Boogie Nights soundtrack.
Don't forget Hedwig and the Angry Inch!
Yes, the soundtrack to Out of Sight is really good. And good call on Trees Lounge and Kids; let's also add Laurel Canyon.
I think it's interesting how movies now try to stack the deck with great soundtracks. It'd be nice if they could make a good movie first then think about the soundtrack (in lieu of directors/writers/producers who consider certain song elements while making the film).
Yeah, Drysdale mentions Hedwig in his list, and I thought I covered Boogie Nights (and Magnolia) by saying "anything by Paul Thomas Anderson."
Repo Man... And, following in the LA vein, Decline of Western Civilization Part 1 (Penelope Spheeris waaaay before Wayne's World or the bad hair metal of Decline... part II).
Reality Bites, Clueless
Kevin Smith movies always have the soundtrack playing prominent roles (though Chasing Amy never released a CD of the soundtrack, much to my disappointment).
And definately Cameron Crowe movies.
The Virgin Suicides - for the exquisite use of Crazy on You, the late night communicating through music over the phone scene, the air soundtrack/soundscape and for involving a Sloan song.
oh, and almost forgot - Oh Brother Where Art Thou and Swingers. Both responsible for starting music fads.
DePalma's Phantom of the Opera is pretty rad
Good point about Almost Famous, Amadeus, etc. Totally agree. Other films that come to mind:
- The Jazz Singer (notably the first "speakie" or whatever, and, of course, the remake by Neil Diamond)
- True Stories by David Byrne/Talking Heads
- Sweet and Lowdown by Woody Allen
- Concert movies like Rattle and Hum by U2 or Gimme Shelter by Rolling Stones
- The Music Man (duh...)
- Psycho (arguably about the music as much as about the plot/cinematography, etc.)
- Fame
- Docs like Decline of Western Civilization
I mean, there are HUNDREDS. Why he picked those (Moulin Rouge?) I don't know...
-H
You don't like Moulin Rouge? My LOL is all OMG.
Velvet Goldmine, if only for the eye candy.
ok, so it's not a great movie, but... empire records.
i also think darren aronofsky's (sp?) films have rather fantastic soundtracks/scores.
Loved the soundtrack on "Requiem for a Dream". It got me listening to the Kronos Quartet.
On the old school soundtrack side, I'm shocked nobody has mentioned The Graduate and Harold And Maude. Simon And Garfunkel and Cat Stevens respectively were crucial elements to those flicks being the classics that they are.
I'm assuming that this is for non-documentaries:
Sid and Nancy
This is Spinal Tap
I'd also add just about anything by Krzysztof Kieslowski (particularly Red) and Scorsese (particluarly Raging Bull and Goodfellas). Terrence Malick's use of music is also quite good.
Spinal Tarp gets my vote. (Serious fans will get the joke.)
Others: Saturday Night Fever. Woodstock. Crossroads (the one with Ralph Machio, not Britney). Dancehall Queen. Rock and Roll High School. Sid & Nancy. And of course Light of Day starring Joan Jett and Michael J Fox. That goes without saying.
And Wong Kar-Wai. The music in In the Mood for Love and the last act of Chungking Express perfectly fit the films.
before mama mia on broadway, abba was put to good use on the muriel's wedding soundtrack - would not be the same without...also what about flashdance and footloose?
if we want to go old-school soundtrack route, then the big chill should be included, obvs.
"Moulin Rouge - meh"??? I would have assumed Gothamist digs musicals. I don't, but any lover of pop music would be nuts not appreciate that movie. Drysdale didn't make mention, but songs sampled in it include: "Children of the Revolution," "Roxanne," "Silly Love Songs," "Your Song".. that's off the top of my head. "Nature Boy" alone makes it worth the rental.
My favorite music movie: "Grace of my Heart." Allison Anders' movies always rock.
How about:
-Last Waltz
-Hard Day's Night/Help/Yellow Submarine
-The Doors
-The Committments
-Flashdance
-Thank God It's Friday
okay, so i missed the "anything by Paul Thomas Anderson" - ouch.
marcia, I love musicals, but hate Moulin Rouge. I just... I mean, 80s pop songs done as big Broadway numbers? I almost walked out when they started singing Madonna songs.
Maybe not a classic, but I'd add Camp to the list. It's kind of angsty and adolescent, but the music is pretty good. And what about movies like The Rose or Coal Miner's Daughter?
I'd definitely like to second "The Commitments" (how was that forgotten in favor of "Moulin Rouge"?!), and, to a lesser extent, the flawed but sincere "Grace of My Heart." Good calls, both.
Good one about Sid and Nancy. How about 32 Short Films about Glenn Gould?
Stealing Beauty actually has a really great soundtrack.
how about the documentary about dylan - "don't look back"
Don't forget about the Forrest Gump soundtrack. A ton of great pop songs that span over several decades.
Electric Dreams (1984)
"The Ballad of Ramblin Jack" is a little-known gem and a must see for all music lovers. Easily one of my favourite films.
And what about the legendary 'The Red Violin'? Or '22 Short Films about Glenn Gould' for that matter ...
hard core logo
and
SLC punk
The Red Violin
what about....
allison anders amazing and wonderful
SUGARTOWN with john doe and john taylor
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0173390/
another allison anders flick
GRACE OF MY HEART
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0116442/
and the unfortunately titled but quite enjoyable
PREY FOR ROCK AND ROLL
with gina gershon and drea de matteo
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0307351/
stop making sense is the only movie bout music.
Eddie and the Cruisers
The movie Valley Girl, Especially for being there to POPularize Modern English's "Melt With You." For the FIRST time around. And giving you Nicholas Cage.
Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001), doc about surboarders in California in the '70s
um... make that "skateboarders"
"marcia, I love musicals, but hate Moulin Rouge. I just... I mean, 80s pop songs done as big Broadway numbers? I almost walked out when they started singing Madonna songs."
You is open-minded!
I kind of thought that to be the main strength of Moulin Rouge. The notbeingafraidofusingcrappymusic-factor. That, and the mind-numbing eye-candyness of it all.
Quadrophenia - soundtrack by the Who and extra material from other 60's artists.
The Big Chill!
and Se7en has a good eclectic soundtrack
About music: American Hot Wax http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077158/
Not about music: American Graffiti
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069704/
What about Donnie Darko for a great use of music to set the atmosphere.
Echo and the Bunnymen - The killing moon sounds great for the opening sequence!
If you're going to go the documentary route:
"The Land Where Blues Began" (Alan Lomax profile of Mississippi blues origins. Anything by Lomax is worth getting)
"The Filth and the Fury" (definitive Sex Pistols doc)
"Woodstock" AND "The Isle of Wight Festival" (to see the height and end of the Peace n' Love music festival thing)
"The Monterey Pop Festival" (Ravi Shankar rocks!)
"Hype" (the Seattle music scene)
"Don't Look Back" (Dylan was never so gloriously pissy)
"Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" (can't go wrong with 70's Bowie)
"The Decline of Western Civilization" (West Coast punk rocks... but not as hard as Ravi Shankar!)
"Gimme Shelter" (not so much for the music than the time)
"The Last Waltz" (a little stiff, but tons of great performers and directed by Scorsese)
Judgment Night, The Lost Boys and The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert
Oooh, I forgot Delicatessen and The Mission....
oh.. and SUBURBIA
All such great suggestions. There are things I like about Moulin Rougue (Baz Luhrmann's tenacity), but the movie, for me, blew - I couldn't feel much sympathy for Satine. The best recent movie musical for me has been South Park The Movie.
shine
hilary and jackie
SWEET AND LOWDOWN!!!
The only movie REALLY about music is
Dancer In The Dark
Check it out: My buddy's new film, which is about an Atlanta-based jazz group, premieres THIS FRIDAY at the Kabuki Theater in San Francisco as part of the SF International Film Feature. The film is called "Brass Tacks." I have information on my site for those that want to find out more.
The after party should be Niiiiiiice, due to the fact that my buddy Gavin, the film's director, really knows how to keep people fat 'n' happy at a party. It's not big secret: plenty o' everything, dancing, etc. etc.
Sh*t, how could we forget "Coal Miner's Daughter"? That's Americana and music biography rolled up in one. Then again, I do think the Brits started this (seemingly kinda ridiculous) poll.
Great soundracks...
I shot andy warhol
stand by me
singles
Totally agree about South Park--best musical film of the last ten years. As for soundtracks, I always thought Hal Hartley's movies had some good stuff--Amateur works nicely with its music
Romeo is Bleeding
Go
The Big Lebowski
Buena Vista Social Club
Rushmore
9 1/2 Weeks
Fight Club
Hero (The Chinese one)
Twin Peaks (TV series)
It's a tv show, but That 70's Show has two soundtracks out that have some nifty stuff on it, and the show plays great music in the background. Also, Grease, that soundtrack's so kitschy but I love it. South Park, any Kevin Smith movie, and Spinal Tap are some of my other favorites.
Nashville
Fame
Grease
Saturday Night Fever
Singing in the Rain
Stomy Weather
The Rose
Meet Me in St. Louis
Purple Rain
Beat Street/Breakin (sucky movies, but some really good music)
Brown Sugar (One of the best Hip Hop soundtracks to date)
Black Caesar (Entire soundtrack by James Brown "The Big Payback" Papa Don't Take No Mess")
Trouble Man (Some of Marvin Gaye's best work)
Sparkle ( Curtis Mayfield Classics)
SuperFly ( More Mayfield classics)
Shaft ( The theme put Issac Hayes in the mainstream)
Standing in the Shadows of Motown.
The Wiz
Cabin in the Sky
Let's Do It Again (introduced the world to the Staple Singers)
Lady Sings the Blues
Coal Miner's Daughter
5 Heart Beats
Grace of My Heart
Flashdance
O'Brother Where Art Thou
Cotton Club
'Round Midnight
Easy Rider.
The Harder They Come.
I am Trying to Break Your Heart, a documentary about Wilco, is strangely compelling.
On Moulin Rouge, I vote hell yeah. The Elephant Medley is a work of art culminating in that great Bowie tune Heroes.
Agree with a lot of the above but I also need to point out two great trashy rock movies from the late 60's, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, and Wild in the Streets. Just commented further in my blog here.
And on Moulin Rouge, I'll cast another "love it" vote. When a friend first told me I thought I'd hate it but when I finally got around to it I totally bought in...
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Hey 'The Dive', those are some great movies you have posted!
History of the United States of America.