If you enjoy the sweet combination of music and movies, welcome to the club. This article is part two of a music themed movie trilogy, and is a favorite sub-genre at House Clark. The fifteen movies on this list include several different genres (biographical, comedy, drama, comedy romance, and a documentary) while the only common denominator is the focus on music, singing and dancing in the lives of the main characters.
The movies are rated using the patented four step rating system, and are listed by release date, beginning in 2015.
1. Ricki and the Flash 2015 drama comedy music
Rating: C-
Music Production quality: D STAR power: B Narrative/story: C This dramedy carefully checks all the boxes for the so called modern audience: Diversity casting √; Mixed marriage √; Gay couples √; Follow your dreams BS √; Artists as special snowflakes and cooler than anybody else √;. Meryl Streep is in every scene. She is the reigning Queen of Hollywood, but I just couldn't buy her as Ricki, a singer in a rock 'n roll band. Streep was never very sexy and now seeing her dress up like a hooker, at age 68, is cheap and repulsive. Most unconvincing role she has ever played. Streep’s singing voice is too weak for Rock music. It was annoying to sit through too many of her songs. Kevin Kline makes a gallant effort to save this film, but the lame script is laugh-free. Recommended only for the most dedicated Streep fans.
2. Whiplash 2014 drama music
Rating: A (extra credit for So Bad; it is good™)
Music Production quality: D STAR power: A Narrative/story: D Perhaps you prefer a generous dose of sadism with your music. OK, no problem. Welcome to the Studio Jazz Band at Shaeffer University, the best music school in America. Unfortunately, nobody measures up the standards of Mr. Fletcher, the Music Director from Hell. He is especially tough on the drummers. The practice sessions are so cruel that it is totally unbelievable. But still amazing to watch and wait for the next eruption of the maniac music man. Good quotes: Are you rushing or dragging? Hmph, not quite MY tempo. Andrew: I’m Upset. Fletcher: Louder! We are gonna stay here until one of you faggots can stay in my tempo. I’ll cue you in. Caravan! This flick is cross posted in: So bad, it is good!
3. Begin Again 2013 drama music
Rating: C+
Music Production quality: B STAR power: B Narrative/story: D The fun part of this flick is the underdog story about Greta, an unknown girl singer-songwriter, taking on a big music label. The acting is above average, but the British actors spoke in that mumbley, low class accent that is trendy yet unintelligible to the American ear accustomed to proper BBC English. By far, the highlight of the movie is when Dan (Mark Ruffalo) engineers the independent production of Greta’s hip hoppy music video album. The band jumps around NYC and records music using cool outdoor sets. But suddenly the movie lost focus on the music and delved too deep into Greta’s boy troubles, in the worst, sappy chick-flick sort of way. I really didn't care about Greta’s ex- boyfriend, and he was in way too many scenes. Hint: Keep finger hovering over the FF button.
4. La Vie en Rose 2007 drama biopic music
Rating: A+
Music Production quality: A STAR power: A+ Narrative/story: A This is not your typical Rags-to-Riches movie; the storyline is complex and is more a rich mosaic of Edith Piaf’s singing career rather than a dry, year-by-year book report of her life. The film requires an adult attention span but is not difficult to follow. I agree with one reviewer who wrote that some people shun foreign language films with subtitles, but to have dubbed this from French would have been a crime. Marion Cotillard, a personal favorite actress, is outstanding at bringing Edith Piaf to life on the big screen. So, who is Edith Piaf? Listen to her music and you will know her well enough. If you do not get a little misty eyed at the ending, better check your pulse because you may be dead already. This is one of the best films of the 2000s decade.
5. Music and Lyrics 2007 comedy romance music
Rating: A (extra credit for So Bad; it is good™)
Music Production quality: B STAR power: A Narrative/story: D- There are some strong performances here and actually quite a few good laughs; however, the romantic situation painstakingly set up is, at best, oddball. Besides the major personality conflicts of the leads, and there are several, is the awkward Gidget & Geezer aspect of this couple; Hugh Grant being 16 years senior to Barrymore. The chemistry does not work. The movie troops thru the usual plot: boy gets girl, boy loses girl, and will they get back together? The saving grace of this movie is the music: especially when it juxtaposes Bubble gum pop rock of the 80’s MTV era with the hip hoppy, in-your-face music of the 2000’s. Haley Bennett plays rock diva Cora and she is brilliantly shallow and shameless. Her concert costumes and dance moves are something special; has to be seen to be believed. This movie is cross posted in: So bad; it is good.
6. Nowhere Boy 2009 Biopic music
Rating: B
Music Production quality: B STAR power: A Narrative/story: C- This indie film takes us to 1950s Liverpool, England for a chronicle of teenage John Lennon and his relationships with his Aunt Mimi, who raised him, and his mostly absentee mother, Julia. The acting is well above par, especially the ladies playing Mimi and Julia. Music is not the main focus of this movie, and watching it will not qualify you as a Beatles historian. On the other hand, this is where the famous musical journey started, and we get a fun glimpse of the birth of the John’s first band. BTW, the name Beatles is not mentioned once
7. A Mighty Wind 2003 comedy music
Rating: A
Music Production quality: B STAR power: A Narrative/story: A There is no denying that Christopher Guest has a genius for mockumentary movies, and A Mighty Wind is his masterpiece. Close behind are Best in Show and Spinal Tap; making a trilogy of comedy hits. In Mighty Wind, a concert is organized featuring two of folk music’s biggest bands; the legendary Folksmen and the upstart New Main Street Singers. Conflict and tension soon engulfs the two bands, and we are treated to a behind-the-scenes view of a hilarious hootenanny.
8. Besieged 1998 drama music romance
Rating: A
Music Production quality: B+ STAR power: A Narrative/story: A+ This movie is a perfect example of artsy, yet enjoyable, great cinema. It has a compelling, well-paced story with strong performances by unknown actors, captivating panorama shots of Rome and maybe the best musical score of the 1990s. This is a very underrated and impressive film about an unlikely love story between a piano player/composer and an immigrant. A 1990s sleeper keeper.
9. Impromptu 1991 bio music
Rating: B
Music Production quality: A STAR power: A Narrative/story: C An outstanding ensemble cast makes this film one of the best romantic comedies of the nineties. Judy Davis and Hugh Grant (Fryderyk Chopin) are perfectly cast as the leads in this costume romance set in 1830s Paris, France. The two goofy love birds, one a frail musical genius and the other a cross dressing writer, are well supported by Emma Thompson, Bernadette Peters, Julian Sand, and Mandy Patinkin. Another fun 1990s Sleeper Keeper.
10. The Last Waltz 1978 musical documentary
Rating: A
Music Production quality: A+ STAR power: A Narrative/story: A This film is widely acclaimed as the greatest live concert movie ever made. Martin Scorsese is a big fan of The Band, and he personally directed this film about their final concert in San Francisco on Thanksgiving, 1976. Levon Helm on drums and Robbie Robertson on electric guitar, performing the group’s big hits makes this film a classic. It also features guest appearances by Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and other Rock & Roll luminaries. This film only improves with age. I pop it in the DVD player every year. RIP Levon.
11. Lili 1953 family musical
Rating: A
Music Production quality: A STAR power: B Narrative/story: C The film is a hard to find classic that can warm the heart of a Swiss banker. Leslie Caron, the amazing French triple threat, stars as Lili, an innocent orphan girl. This is a Coming-of-Age, Hollywood musical produced in the Studio Era. The film is famous for a beautiful music score, the puppet show scenes, and Caron’s graceful dance steps and acting. A reminder of why we love the movies, and strongly recommend for the whole family.
12. Singing in the Rain 1952 musical romance comedy
Rating: A
Music Production quality: A STAR power: A Narrative/story: B This movie is one of the paste jewels in the tinfoil crown of old school musical comedies. In fact, this movie contains a number of outstanding and entertaining performances. Perhaps the three best scenes are: 1) the all-time classic Cyd Charisse dance number- Broadway Rhythm. She is mesmerizing, and steals the show without saying a word. Dressed as a flapper in a sexy jade dress, she elevates the scene to heights that were rare for movies in the 50s; 2) the comically disastrous movie preview of the Dueling Cavaliers, with Lina Lamounts talking film début, 3) and the signature song and dance scene with Mr. Happy Feet, Gene Kelly, energetically performing the title song, in a fake rainstorm. You will be humming the tune the next day.
13. Top Hat/Carefree/Swing Time 1930s musical comedy romance
Rating: B
Music Production quality: A STAR power: A+ Narrative/story: D- These three films are the best of the ten Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers musical comedy movies. One review covers them all because the silly, screwball stories are simply a vehicle to set up song and dance scenes. Fred and Ginger make dancing look easy, and they make it look like a lot of fun also. With perfect timing and graceful moves, Fred and Ginger were the best dance team in the movie business. The challenge of the male dancer is to make his female partner look great, so this is why Fred was the King of the Dance Hall: Ginger always looks fantastic. I cannot take my eyes off her on the dance floor. These movies are also a remarkable time capsule of upper class America in the 1930s before the catastrophe of world war. The modern movie fans probably have overlooked Fred and Ginger movies. But for a starter, I suggest watching Astaire and Rodgers pair up and dance the finale in Swing Time (Never Gonna Dance). You will not see better footwork and blur spins on today’s wildly popular DWTS.
Honorable mentions – The Blues Brothers, Spinal Tap, The Doors.
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AuthorWritten by Ben Clark. Copyright 2016-2023. All rights reserved.
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