Top 5

Re:Re: Top Five Movies About Music

NakedLunchRadioShow — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 01:47:10 GMT

Hardcore Logo needs to be mentioned guys! Come on! Great film!

Also there is a new film that just came out on DVD this week called Echoes of Home.

Anyhow I could go on but....

IF you love music and movies you should check out my radio show one day. I would love any feedback.

You can listen to previous episodes here

http://augustism.com/index.php?option=com_doqment&cid=2

or listen live here

http://www.cjlo.com/Shows/nakedlunch/

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

indieabby88 — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:01:17 GMT

I just remembered, "Les Choristes" is also a good movie about music. I thought it was terribly sweet.

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

schulen — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 01:41:19 GMT

Almost Famous - Philip Seymour Hoffman, explaining the relation of the music geek/journalist to the bands they revere is the moment that this film grows from an excellent comming-of-age story in to a profound and incrediby insightful examination of pop music, people who make pop music, and people who love pop music.

Heartworn Highways - Country music was the original punk rock. it was honesty, gritty, rebellious, and aimed at the lowly. Then, it became the most commercially consistent and artistictically-lifeless genre of music not sung by earnest teenage boys. However, country as country was still exists. Rebranned as Americana or another half-dozen other names, there is a thriving community of artists blending folk, Hank Williams era country, and Buddy Holly era rock'n'roll, in to music too twangy for most, and too honest for CMT. This film follows some of the first, and some of the best, very early in their careers. If Townes Van Zandt's sing-along with his elderly neighbor doesn't make you cry, you're a weird fucking person.

Velvet Goldmine - I'll defend the hell out of this incredibly misunderstood movie. Movies like Ray and Walk The Line do a fine job telling the story of interesting and remarkable musicians. This movie, however, does more. It brilliantly dramatizes the glam-rock culture of the time, both critically and with affection. Glam rock was art, and it was cheap shock. Glam rockers got it, at first, and then went too far. This movie isn't a movie about David Bowie, it's a movie about everything David Bowie's career, at that time, represents. From heartbreaking moments (Christian Bale screaming "That's me dad!" as he's longing to be outted) to asinine theatrics, this is a flick that doesn't just tell you about interesting characters, it assumes their personality. One get's the sense that if you asked David Bowie in 1972 to make a movie about David Bowie in 1972, he might have come up with this exact film. With something as abstract as music, and specific as glam rock music, taking that approach is inspired.

High Fidelity - Maybe overrated, maybe fucking perfect.

The Last Waltz - The Band. Good enough?

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

Windbreaker — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 00:07:53 GMT

Almost Famous ranks in the top few of my all-time favorite movies, so naturally it fits this bill also. Past #1, the order means nothing. Glad you posted about Once - that's the first I've heard of it.

1. Almost Famous

2. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster

3. That Thing You Do

4. Immortal Beloved

5. Ray

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

GradysGhost — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 22:05:28 GMT

Convince you, tmoney? To watch Empire Records? I'll take you up on that challenge.

It may actually be one of the most quotable movies of all time. For instance, "It's Rex Manning day!" "His name's not fucking Warren!" "I wonder if I'll be held responsible for this?"

With the exception of "Till I Hear It From You" by Gin Blossoms, it's got a great 90's rock soundtrack.

A mostly amazing cast includes that guy who played Slater in Dazed and Confused, that guy who looks like Corey Haim did in Lost Boys but isn't, that guy who was on that TV show on the USA network about the FBI, Renee Zellweger (sp?), Robin Tunney, and apparently you have a problem with Liv Tyler. Regardless of name, everyone plays the part to perfection.

It's funny. It's tender. It's a movie you'll never forget and you'll watch over and over again.

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

tmoney — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:51:35 GMT

Abby, I'm glad you enjoyed Once, it is really a great great film. As for 24 Hour Party People, it is a good one, but not in my top 5. I do like it though. And Joy Division is all right. I can't seem to really get into them though. I'm more of a Smiths fan. A little more light hearted but still depressing.

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

wonga — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:26:02 GMT

i completely agree with Once and Amadeus. i've seen Once twice now and the second time it struck me how much it was about the music -- it was like a music video, with a simple story that hardly needed dialogue. anyway, my five would include:

Woodstock: i know it's an old chestnut but the music and the whole mood of the movie is perfect, especially if you haven't seen it for a while.
Standing In The Shadows Of Motown: Great documentary about the Motown session players. if you're like me, you've forgotten how much you liked this music until you hear it again.
All That Jazz: Dancing to die for!
Almost Famous: The movie is inseparable from the soundtrack and both are pretty great.
One-Trick Pony: i think Paul Simon's movie about a band on the road is a "hidden gem" and needs to be made available on DVD now!

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

indieabby88 — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:10:02 GMT

I saw "Once" last night. It was probably the most beautiful movie I've seen all year. I nearly cried at the end of the movie. I think everyone in that place (guys and gals alike) were either crying or a little misty-eyed when the credits rolled.

I just remembered this morning that nobody had mentioned "24-Hour Party People," a movie that I really enjoyed, despite its length. It had a great cast, and I really like New Order and Joy Division, so this was right up my alley.

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

pippin06 — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:05:50 GMT

Yeah, I agree. I mean, you're not missing much. It has its place, and I laughed sometimes, but it's not one you should be persuaded to see. It's not that great. Though, for the record, Liv Tyler being in it makes little to no difference. Her presence is not offensive or anything.

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

Risselada — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:32:14 GMT

tmoney:
I've not seen Empire Records. The cover alone was a cautionary sign not to watch it. Liv Tyler in a record store movie?Convince me.

Tmoney, I'll convince you your instincts were correct. DON'T GO NEAR THIS MOVIE!

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

tmoney — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:31:08 GMT

I've not seen Empire Records. The cover alone was a cautionary sign not to watch it. Liv Tyler in a record store movie?Convince me.

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

Risselada — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:48:47 GMT

GradysGhost:
Plus, watching Ann-Margaret roll around in champagne foam which quickly turns to Rex beans (fit for a king!) which quickly turns to human excrement is SO HOT!

YIKES!

Actually I did just watch Tommy recently. Maybe if I'd been more familiar with the music I would have got into it, but the only song I knew and loved really was Pinball Wizard. I guess I'm not a true Who fan. But that was my favorite sequence too. Elton John with the big shoes and playing his pinball machine keyboard.

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

GradysGhost — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:50:43 GMT

tmoney -- I love Empire Records so much! Don't you? But I wouldn't include it in a discussion about music, since it's mostly a movie about bonding.

At any rate, let's not forget Tommy, the story of the Pinball Wizard. To be honest, I don't even really like this film, but it does have some truly phenomenal scenes in it. I'm particularly in love with the "Acid Queen" segment and the "Do You Think It's Alright?" bits. The Preacher is cool, as is the Pinball Wizard scene. It's fun to see all those famous rock stars of the day (Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Elton John, etc.) singing songs by The Who. Plus, watching Ann-Margaret roll around in champagne foam which quickly turns to Rex beans (fit for a king!) which quickly turns to human excrement is SO HOT!

Re: Top Five Movies About Music

pippin06 — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:22:59 GMT

Awww. No Empire Records? Just kidding.

Your category is so broad! I mean, I could maybe do top 5s in musicals, in performance films, etc. etc. There are whole Spout groups devoted to each of these little subtopics. So, I'll throw out one or two favorites of each, in no specific order:

--In music documentaries, my number one favorite is The Beatles Anthology. Yes, it was originally relegated to TV because it's so huge, but it's one of the most comprehensive music documentaries in existence by the greatest rock n roll band ever (and also my favorite). It's very complete and well-filmed. I just bought it, matter of fact, though I had a previous VCR version taped from those TV segments however many years ago.

--In musicals, my two hands-down favorites are The Wizard of Oz and Singin' in the Rain. They are widely regarded as the best movie musicals, and while from the classic era, are just fun movies to watch, and they are two of my nerd movies (as in, I can recite them). Yet, I have a whole movie musical collection from old to new, so I could keep going....

--In performance films, I like A Hard Day's Night. It's the first best music video, also by the Beatles, and while they are caricatures of themselves, it's really very funny and showcases tunes from one of their better early albums. I also like watching Woodstock, which could fall under either documentaries or performance films. It's a great piece of history to see all those bands gathered together. Woodstock '94 and '99 were good for the music selections/artists themselves, but the concept was dead by that time. I'm betraying my generation by saying it, but the originals are always better than sequels anyhow, and all of that crime and fire and stuff was kind of a bummer, man.

--I can't think of any music industry related films right now that strike me as super-awesome. Hm. I'll get back to you on that one.

Yet, I love watching musicals and movies about music and movies with music. I'm with you, tmoney. I like watching concept films like Pink Floyd's The Wall (trippy that) or Led Zeppelin's The Song Remains the Same or concert films by my favorite artists (Dave Matthews, U2, and so on). Amadeus is an awesome movie (though Falco's song is not an awesome song). Great topic!

Top Five Movies About Music

tmoney — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 03:01:39 GMT

This category can be music documentaries, musicals, performance films, movies about the music industry (please no one say empire records PLEASE.)

1. Once - I cannot say/blog enough good things about this special special film. It is so lovely and heartbreaking. Watch it. I am not a Frames fan, but the melodramatic rock is perfect for this kind of movie.

2. Spinal Tap - yeah yeah kind of obvious, but it IS great.

3. Hedwig and the Angry Inch -one of my favorite musicals, and my favorite rock opera definitely.

4. The Devil and Daniel Johnston - Not my favorite of musicians by far (i mean how much Daniel Johnston can one listen to?), but this is probably my favorite music documentary.

5. Amadeus - it has been years since i've seen this but as i recall it is an amazing film.

I love music. i love films. enlighten me.