The best music-related biopics

[PryTo]

I'm a total sucker for this genre of film. I'll basically watch any biographical movie about a musician. Never get sick of 'em, even though many are pretty bad. I'm curious to see how badly Jersey Boys was butchered by Clint Eastwood. Loved the musical, but it's hard to believe that Eastwood was the right guy for the job. I'm sure I'll enjoy it anyway. I have many favorites in this genre, but two continue to resonate with me. This may be because I had them on VHS as a kid and have watched both of them a kajillion times. Both of them have outstanding performances from the lead and supporting actors, fantastic soundtracks (performed with total conviction by the actors, rather than voiced over), excellent scripts and overall direction. And both films clock in near the two-hour mark, so there's some attempt at depth and exploration. Yeah, they're loose with the facts, but that's probably true for most biopics. If you haven't seen these films, you won't be disappointed.

The Buddy Holly Story. Busey just owns this character (he was nominated for an Oscar). Even though it was heavily criticized for historical inaccuracy, it sure makes for a fun movie, top to bottom. How can you not adore the opening scene, where Buddy casts aside the safe pop standards and rocks the s**t out of a roller rink. This is what revolution looks like, folks. Musical revolution, that is. But you really get the sense that an entire culture was about to change, led by troubadours like Holly and co. And what a great song to showcase here. Not one of Holly's greatest hits, but a song that simply rocks to its core.



Coal Miner's Daughter. Everything above applies here, too. Sissy Spacek won the Oscar for this portrayal, which really shows how Loretta Lynn went from a dirt-poor mother of four kids to a country music superstar. Tommy Lee Jones is equally good here. Can't find any scenes on YouTube, but this is such a great song -- from an equally great scene where Lynn's husband makes her get up and sing in front of a bar audience for the first time. She's nervous as hell, but the crowd loves her and she's invited back the next week. The rest, history.



How about you? What are your favorite musical biopics and why?

[Norah]

[E.H. Ruddock]

That Tom Cruise 80's rock one.

[doug rr]

jaws

[Jorge]

24 Hour Party People is pretty good. It's a mess, but it works.

[AndySlash]

walk hard.

Spoiler: show

[PryTo]

Pure joy =

[PryTo]

That Tom Cruise 80's rock one.

Held off on that one for a long time. Finally watched it. Liked it way more than I thought I would.

[LoathedVermin72]

I fucking love Velvet Goldmine.

[LoathedVermin72]

Also Behind the Candelabra, if that counts.

[epilogue]

I fucking love Velvet Goldmine.

Soooooooooooooooooooooo good.

[bodysnatcher]

I fucking love Velvet Goldmine.

Soooooooooooooooooooooo good.

[Whitey McTeeth]

Eddie and the Cruisers.

[bada]

Eddie Lives!

[PryTo]

Been meaning to watch this. Looks pretty great but haven't gotten around to it for some reason.

Also Behind the Candelabra, if that counts.

[PryTo]

Eddie Lives!

This poster from the IMDB boards says it better than I possibly could -- and in all caps, no less.

I SAW IT FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST WEEK AND THE 2ND TIME 2DAY ON CABLE. I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY: I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PURPOSES OF THE MOVIE OR THE ACTING...IT WAS THE 80'S ANYWAY. WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS MIKE PARE BROUGHT IT TO ME. MAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS MOTIVIATION WAS, BUT WHEN GOT ONSTAGE, IT WAS LIKE "LISTEN HERE, (EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE IN THE ROOM WAS ALREADY AT FULL ATTENTION,) I AM THE FRONT MAN, I GOT SOMETHIN' TO SAY, AND YOU'S PUNKS BEST LISTEN UP, AND YOU KNEW THAT IF ANYBODY JUMPED ON THAT STAGE IT WOULD PROBABLY TURN INTO SOMETHING OUT OF CLIVE BARKER MOVIE. HE HAD THAT VEIN BUSTIN' OUT OF HIS FORHEAD, ON HIS NECK, AND HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS ABOUT TO EITHER PASS OUT OR CRAP HIMSELF, I DON'T KNOW MAYBE HE WAS ON COKE. I MEAN, DID YOU SEE THE BAGS IN HIS EYES THROUGHT THE WHOLE MOVIE...? ANYWAY, SOME SAY OVERACTING, LIKE THE SCENE WHEN HE SMASHES HIS GUITAR, (OH YEAH, THAT $800-$1200 FENDER WAS QUICKLY REPRODUCED, UNLESS IT WAS A SQUIRE OR SOME PIECE OF JUNK,) I MEAN I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA SLICE THE LEAD GUITARIST'S FACE OFF, BUT THAT WORKED FOR MY IDEA OF THIS FREAK. YOU CAN'T DENY, IN THIS MOVIE, EDDIE WAS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC, AND WHEN HE GOT ONSTAGE, EVERYONE IN THE ROOM WAS LOOKING. CHILL FACTOR DUDE. WOULD YOU HAVE EVEN DARED TRYING TO GET ONSTAGE AND TAKE THAT MIC FROM HIM?.....HIGHLY UNLIKELY.
BUT ENOUGH ABOUT POLITICS...LET'S TALK ABOUT RELIGION. J/K EDDIE SAID IT BEST ABOUT NOT JUST SHOWING OFF, BUT REALLY HAVING SOMETHIN TO SAY.
THE POINT IS: 1- "TRUE EMOTIONAL CONTENT...NOT ANGER." BRUCE LEE
2-"IF ALL THE WORLD IS A STAGE... I NEED BETTER LIGHTING/AND THE BRIGHTEST SPOT." DAVID LEE ROTH
3- "PUT IT ON MY TAB...IF YOU NEED TO REACH ME JUST CALL YOUR WIFE." BILLY HAM 2004

[mastaflatch]

Amadeus
I'm Not There

[Jorge]

Amadeus fails as a biopic, but it's an amazing movie

[PryTo]

Amadeus fails as a biopic

How so?

[Jorge]

Well it's wildly inaccurate. It's fiction.