Best Music Movies

[JJ Smooth]

What are some of the best music oriented movies? Whether it focuses on a band or artist, or a film that revolves strictly around music (i.e. "School of Rock" with Jack Black). I'm going to outlaw classic musicals in the picking, but here's my top three favorite music movies:



"The Doors" starring Val Kilmer.
One of Kilmer's best performances as he was spot on for playing Jim Morrison. He was a drunk, a clown, a true talent, and a total whack job. For those who've read the excellent biography No One Here Gets Out Alive by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman this is a pitch perfect adaption of the Doors and their erratic frontman.



"Almost Famous" starring Kate Hudson and Billy Crudup.
When I saw this for the first time I was floored. Being somewhat young and still impressionable, this movie wanted me to follow in the footsteps of Cameron Crowe (the director and whose experience this movie is based on). That didn't happen, but it was nice to dream.



"Moonwalker" starring Michael Jackson and Joe Pesci
I'm not tossing this one out just because the star is recently deceased, but growing up I thought this was the coolest movie ever. It featured a bunch of music videos and montages, then went into an actual story with Michael turning into a badass robot and blowing up Pesci. It also has one of the best dance sequences ever with the video for "Smooth Criminal".

[cjk]

Besides the obligatory "This Is Spinal Tap" answer?

I haven't seen "A Mighty Wind", but I like "A Prairie Home Companion".

[Chris_Jones]

My all time favorite is Pink Floyd's "The Wall". Absolutely spectacular imagery and really, REALLY engaging.

[Peter J Poole]

Musicals, easy peasy - Evita, Mamma Mia and Jesus Christ, Superstar.

Movies about music, trickier... Walk The Line, Coal Miner's Daughter, Song of Norway (obscurity bonus!)

Best of both worlds - Fame, the original movie (First pre-recorded video I ever bought. On Phillips 1700 cassette!). I am curious and nervous to see how the new one works out!

Cheers

[zod]

the blues brothers.

/thread.

[DarkKnightJared]

My all time favorite is Pink Floyd's "The Wall". Absolutely spectacular imagery and really, REALLY engaging.

Yes, love that movie--an absolute mindfuck.

[Soracia]

Mahler

The Music Lovers

Lisztomania

Tommy

The Boyfriend

All the BBC shorts (plus his latest Elgar for The South Bank Show)

Why does Ken Russell not receive the praise he should in this country?

+ Oh, What A Lovely War.

[cjk]

the blues brothers.

/thread.

Fuck. Yeah.

[Eldron]

I'll go with The Blue Brothers.

I'll also nominate Standing In The Shadows Of Motown... great documentary, great music, great musicians.

[Pseudobyte]

Gotta second Tommy and Blues Brothers, of course.

Does High Fidelity count?

Not that I think this is necessarily a great film but has anyone else seen Backbeat? It's been running through my mind lately. Humorous look at The Beatles before they were The Beatles, at any rate.

And what about Trick Or Treat?

I would have to argue a case for the Bill and Ted's movies too

Then there's this...

ROCK 'N' ROLL NIGHTMARE
I saw this thing in a new/used shop and could not stop laughing. I may just have to buy it to see how bad it is. The store clerk said this to me: "It's sooo bad. But in a good way.", and when you factor in the lead's name (Jon Mikl THOR), it's so hard to resist. My LCS guys told me it's cheesy gold, too.