Subgenre Sampler

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Elvis (2022): Dir. Baz Luhrmann
Feat. Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Richard Roxburgh; Baz Lurhmann is back with his first feature film since “The Great Gatsby” (2013) exploring the life and music of Elvis Presley in his own…
Tár (Tar) (2022): Dir. Todd Field
Feat. Cate Blanchett, Nina Hoss, Noémie Merlant…; A striking and rigorously intelligent drama from the director of IN THE BEDROOM that interrogates the process, pressures and politics in the…
In The Heights (2021): Dir. Jon Chu
Feat. Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace…; Dazzling musical drama from director Jon M. Chu (CRAZY RICH ASIANS) based on the Broadway musical of the same name by Hudes and Lin–Manuel…
High Note, The (Covers) (2020): Dir. Nisha Ganatra
Feat. Dakota Johnson, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Bill Pullman…; Rom–com set in the music industry, with Dakota Johnson playing an overworked personal assistant who longs for fame and recognition, and Tracee…
Military Wives (2020): Dir. Peter Cattaneo
Feat. Kristin Scott Thomas, Sharon Horgan, Jason Flemyng…; Shamelessly cheesy British comedy following four women who form a military wives choir after their husbands leave to serve in Afghanistan, then find…
Beats (2019): Dir. Brian Welsh
Feat. Laura Fraser, Lorn Macdonald, Cristian Ortega; Evocative Scottish period drama set in the 90's rave scene, following two teenagers who try to sneak into an illegal rave party in…
Rocketman (2019): Dir. Dexter Fletcher
Feat. Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden…; Musical biopic with Taron Egerton playing Elton John, capturing the flamboyant and troubled extremes of his life. Set in his early years when he was…
Sound of Metal (2019): Dir. Darius Marder
Feat. Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci…; Highly acclaimed, thought–provoking drama featuring a sensational performance by Riz Ahmed as a heavy–metal drummer whose life is thrown…
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018): Dir. Bryan Singer
Feat. Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Ben Hardy…; A stonking, irrepressibly popular chronicle of Freddie Mercury and the band Queen's ascension to popular music royalty through the years leading up…
In Your Hands (Au bout des doigts) (2018): Dir. Ludovic Bernard
Feat. Lambert Wilson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jules Benchetrit; A young delinquent with a talent for the piano captures the attention of the Director of the National Conservatory of Music in this feel–good…
Juliet, Naked (2018): Dir. Jesse Peretz
Feat. Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke, Chris O'Dowd; Romantic comedy from the pen of Nick Hornby, exploring indie music superfandom, with a professor who idolises an obscure 90's alt–rocker (Ethan…
Vox Lux (2018): Dir. Brady Corbet
Feat. Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Stacy Martin…; A glittering, daring music drama starring Natalie Portman as a music prodigy who achieved pop stardom in the wake of a deadly school shooting and…
Wild Rose (2018): Dir. Tom Harper
Feat. Jessie Buckley, Matt Costello, Jane Patterson; Music–filled drama following a young Glaswegian mother who sets out to become a Nashville country star after being released from prison.
Music of Silence, The (2017): Dir. Michael Radford
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Jordi Molla; Drama inspired by the life of renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli, based on his autobiography and starring Tony Sebastian (GAME OF THRONES) as the…
Patti Cakes (Patti Cake$) (2017): Dir. Geremy Jasper
Feat. Danielle Macdonald, Bridget Everett; Charming indie film telling the rags–to–riches story of an aspiring rapper from a downtrodden area of New Jersey who refuses to let…
Atlanta (TV Series) (2016): Feat. Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, LaKeith Stanfield…; One of a kind comedy series created by and starring Donald Glover, set in the Atlanta rap scene, where a collage drop out (Glover) takes on the…
Elvis & Nixon (Elvis and Nixon) (2016): Dir. Liza Johnson
Feat. Michael Shannon, Kevin Spacey, Alex Pettyfer…; Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon square off in this entertaining account of rock 'n' roll icon Elvis Presley's journey to the White House to request…
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016): Dir. Stephen Frears
Feat. Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg…; Meryl Streep shines in this biopic of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible…
Ordinary World (2016): Dir. Lee Kirk
Feat. Billie Joe Armstrong, Selma Blair, Judy Greer…; Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong tries out his acting chops as a domesticated ex–rocker who throws an extravagant 40th birthday party…
Born To Be Blue (2015): Dir. Robert Budreau
Feat. Ethan Hawke, Carmen Ejogo; Impressionistic biopic re–imaging Chet Baker's musical comeback in the late '60s, with Ethan Hawke playing the jazz legend who battled heroin…
Danny Collins (2015): Dir. Dan Fogelman
Feat. Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner…; Al Pacino stars as an aging rock star who decides to change his life when he discovers a 40–year–old letter written to him by John…
Empire (TV Series) (2015): Feat. Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Gabourey Sidibe; Terrence Howard stars as the CEO of a hugely successful music label who is diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease and has to choose one of his…
Jem and The Holograms (2015): Dir. Jon M. Chu
Feat. Stefanie Scott, Aurora Perrineau, Hayley Kiyoko…; Live–action update of the popular '80's cartoon about a small–town girl who catapults from underground video sensation to global…
Marguerite (2015): Dir. Xavier Giannoli
Feat. Catherine Frot, Andre Marcon, Michel Fau…; Touching French version of the story inspired by the life of Florence Foster Jenkins, a socialite who believed she was in possession of a beautiful…
Miles Ahead (2015): Dir. Don Cheadle
Feat. Don Cheadle, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Ewan McGregor…; Don Cheadle directs and offers a full–throated performance as Miles Davis in this adventurous, non–linear, exploration of the life and…
Ricki and the Flash (2015): Dir. Jonathan Demme
Feat. Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Mamie Gummer…; Meryl Streep adds 'rock star' to her oeuvre in this pleasing dramedy written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jonathan Demme. Streep stars as a…
Straight Outta Compton (2015): Dir. F. Gary Gray
Feat. O’Shea Jackson, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell…; Invigorating drama charts the rise of rap legends N.W.A. as they emerge from the mean streets of Compton in Los Angeles, and their profound impact…
We Are Your Friends (2015): Dir. Max Joseph
Feat. Zac Efron, Wes Bentley, Emily Ratajkowski…; SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER for EDM fans, this coming–of–age drama stars Zac Efron as an struggling DJ trying to catch a break in the electronic…
20,000 Days on Earth (2014): Dir. Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard
Feat. Nick Cave, Ray Winstone, Kylie Minogue; A 24–hour portrait of writer and musician Nick Cave, blending fiction and reality, as it examines the artistic process and the power of the…
Boychoir (2014): Dir. Francois Girard
Feat. Dustin Hoffman, Garrett Wareing, Kathy Bates…; A demanding choir master at an elite music academy pushes a gifted but rebellious student to fulfill his true potential.
Eden (2014): Dir. Mia Hansen-Love
Feat. Félix de Givry, Pauline Etienne, Vincent Macaigne…; Peculiarly affecting drama set in the underground "garage" dance subculture of early–nineties Paris, where a teenager forms a DJ collective…
Frank (2014): Dir. Lenny Abrahamson
Feat. Domhnall Gleeson, Scoot McNairy, Maggie Gyllenhaal…; A lovable, off–beat indie rock satire in which Michael Fassbender plays the leader of a group of experimental musicians who lives permanently…
Get On Up (2014): Dir. Tate Taylor
Feat. Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd…; Chadwick Boseman is mesmerizing in this formatted yet dynamic chronicle of pioneering music frontman James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to his…
God Help the Girl (2014): Dir. Stuart Murdoch
Feat. Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray…; Belle & Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch writes and directs this 60s–inspired musical set in Glasgow about an emotionally troubled young woman whose…
Jersey Boys (2014): Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, Vincent Piazza…; Clint Eastwood brings the hit stage musical of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons' rise to stardom to the big screen.
Love & Mercy (Love and Mercy) (2014): Dir. Bill Pohlad
Feat. John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks…; Finely attuned portrait of Brian Wilson, the mercurial singer, songwriter and leader of The Beach Boys, and his struggles with his emerging psychosis…
Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS (2014): Dir. Daina Reid
Feat. Luke Arnold; Gaudy two–part Australian telemovie of the untold story rock band INXS and their rise to fame alongside charismatic frontman Michael…
Pa Boys, The (2014): Dir. Himiona Grace; A small, nicely formed road movie of following a three–piece Wellington reggae band as they tour the North Island. At its heart a celebration…
Rudderless (2014): Dir. William H. Macy
Feat. Billy Crudup, Anton Yelchin, Felicity Huffman…; William H. Macy''s directorial debut features Billy Crudup as a grieving father in a downward spiral who stumbles across a box of his recently…
Song One (2014): Dir. Kate Barker-Froyland
Feat. Anne Hathaway, Johnny Flynn, Mary Steenburgen; Sensitive drama set in New York's contemporary indie–folk music scene, with Anne Hathaway as a young woman who strikes up a relationship with…
Whiplash (2014): Dir. Damien Chazelle
Feat. Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser…; A promising young jazz drummer enrolls at a cutthroat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at…
Broken Circle Breakdown, The (2013): Dir. Felix Van Groeningen
Feat. Veerle Baetens, Johan Heldenbergh, Nell Cattrysse; Dynamic and sexy musical romance set in the Flemish region of Belgium over seven years of poignant love and loss, and featuring a magnificent…
CBGB (2013): Dir. Randall Miller
Feat. Alan Rickman, Malin Akerman, Justin Bartha…; Biopic about the former New York music club CBGB, which opened in 1973 as a venue for country, bluegrass and blues but soon became ground zero for…
Dancing on the Edge (TV series) (2013): Dir. Stephen Poliakoff
Feat. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matthew Goode, Angel Coulby…; Aided by beautiful period detail, Stephen Poliakoff's latest drama richly explores the rise and fall of a black jazz band embraced by the aristocracy…
Devil's Violinist, The (2013): Dir. Bernard Rose
Feat. David Garrett, Jared Harris, Joely Richardson…; The acclaimed violinist David Garrett makes his acting debut in this biopic of Italian violinist and composer, Niccolò Paganini, from the director…
Jimi: All is By My Side (2013): Dir. John Ridley
Feat. Andre Benjamin, Hayley Atwell, Imogen Poots; An intuitive and evocative portrait of Jimi Hendrix as a fledgling rock legend honing his craft in Swinging London, prior to his legendary Stateside…
Metallica: Through the Never (2013): Dir. Nimrod Antal
Feat. Dane DeHaan; This odd hybrid of concert film and head–tripping narrative features Dane DeHaan as a Metallica roadie sent on a bizarre mission during the…
Mt. Zion (2013): Dir. Tearepa Kahi
Feat. Stan Walker, Temuera Morrison, Miriama Smith; Singer Stan Walker plays a humble potato picker who dreams of performing the opening act to Bob Marley and the Wailers’ 1979 Auckland concert, in…
Filly Brown (2012): Dir. Youssef Delara, Michael D. Olmos
Feat. Gina Rodriguez, Lou Diamond Phillips, Edward James Olmos; A vividly performed and evoked L.A. story of a talented Latina hip–hop artist hoping to crack the big time.
Greetings From Tim Buckley (2012): Dir. Daniel Algrant
Feat. Penn Badgley, Imogen Poots, William Sadler; Avoiding the simplistic trappings of the music 'biopic', this is a sensitively handled elegy for the late Jeff Buckley, here portrayed with…
Nashville (TV Series) (2012): Feat. Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Clare Bowen; A juicy, broadly appealing showbiz drama about private and professional rivalries in the country music industry. Stars Connie Britton as a Bonnie…
Sapphires, The (2012): Dir. Wayne Blair
Feat. Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens…; The upbeat story of four talented indigenous women, whose exploits entertaining U.S. troops during the Vietnam era made them Australia’s answer to…
Spike Island (2012): Dir. Mat Whitecross
Feat. Elliot Tittensor, Nico Mirallegro, Jordan Murphy…; A rising indie band travels to Spike Island, Cheshire, in May of 1990 to see The Stone Roses.
Bombay Beach (2011): Dir. Alma Har’el; Hypnotic and highly innovative documentary about a ghost town on the Salton Sea in Southern California, which is home to a failed 1950's development…
Killing Bono (2011): Dir. Nick Hamm
Feat. Ben Barnes, Robert Sheehan, Krysten Ritter…; Rock critic Neil McCormick recounts his close brush with stardom in this crowd–pleasing tall story of two brothers whose high school band comes…
Weekender (2011): Dir. Karl Golden
Feat. Jack O'Connell, Zawe Ashton, Emily Barclay…; Dancing to a repetitive beat, nostalgic headtrippers can look forward to reliving the British clubbing scene in this slavish, drug–fueled…
Chico & Rita (Chico and Rita) (2010): Dir. Tono Errando, Javier Mariscal, Fernando Trueba; A date move with a difference, this sensuous animated tale for adults traces the love affair of a big–dreaming piano player and a gifted singer…
Country Strong (2010): Dir. Shana Feste
Feat. Gwyneth Paltrow, Leighton Meester, Garrett Hedlund…; Middling drama in which sparks fly when a fledgling musician crosses paths with a fallen music star.
Gainsbourg (2010): Dir. Joann Sfar
Feat. Eric Elmosnino, Lucy Gordon, Sara Forestier…; Freewheeling biographical account of singer/composer/actor Serge Gainsbourg, an enduring iconic figure of French popular culture. Serves the…
Runaways, The (2010): Dir. Floria Sigismondi
Feat. Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon…; A high–strung, hell–for–leather rock movie based on the short–lived exploits of pioneering girl band The Runaways and their…
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (Sex and Drugs and Rock & Roll) (2010): Dir. Mat Whitecross
Feat. Andy Serkis, Naomie Harris, Olivia Williams…; Andy Serkis portrays trailblazing British rocker Ian Dury, who overcame childhood polio and its attendant social problems to emerge as an unlikely…
Step Up 3 (Step Up 3-D) (2010): Dir. Jon Chu
Feat. Rick Malambri, Adam G. Sevani, Sharni Vinson…; Hormonal third entry in the back–popping dance series has a tight–knit group of street dancers pitted against the world's best…
Worried About the Boy (2010): Dir. Julian Jarrold
Feat. Douglas Booth, Mathew Horne, Mark Gatiss…; Compassionate, but never fawning, biopic of the eighties icon Boy George jumps between his early taste of pop stardom to post–fame despair.…
Crazy Heart (2009): Dir. Scott Cooper
Feat. Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Keane…; In an Oscar–winning turn, Jeff Bridges plays faded country music star Bad Blake, who swaggers from one dive to the next until his friendship…
No One Knows About Persian Cats (2009): Dir. Bahman Ghobadi
Feat. Negar Shaghaghi, Ashkan Koshanejad, Hamed Behdad; Unprecedented pseudo–documentary exploring Iran’s forbidden underground music scene, starring Tehranian rockers Negar Shaghaghi and Ashkan…
Notorious (2009): Dir. George Tillman Jr.
Feat. Jamal Woolard, Angela Bassett, Derek Luke…; Surprisingly credible biopic of Christopher 'Notorious B.I.G.' Wallace, whose rise to the throne of East Coast rap – and inexplicable murder via…
Nowhere Boy (2009): Dir. Sam Taylor-Johnson
Feat. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Anne-Marie Duff…; A likeable portrait of John Lennon's pre–Beatles youth in 1950's Liverpool and his emotional tug–of–war with the two maternal…
Taking Woodstock (2009): Dir. Ang Lee
Feat. Demetri Martin, Imelda Staunton, Henry Goodman…; Dir. Ang Lee painstakingly recreates the age of Aquarius for this sprawling yet tepid comedy based on the 'true story' of a Jewish interior designer…
Arctic Monkeys - At The Apollo (2008): Dir. Richard Ayoade; Live performance from Indie rockers 'Arctic Monkeys' performing the last gig of their World Tour at the Manchester Apollo in 2007. Set list…
Cadillac Records (2008): Dir. Darnell Martin
Feat. Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Gabrielle Union…; Flashy interpretation of the rise of the seminal Chess Records, regarded by many as America's greatest blues label. This ensemble piece is more…
Celine (2008): Dir. Jeff Woolnaugh
Feat. Jodelle Ferland, Christine Ghawi, Enrico Colantoni; Rags–to–riches biopic of the struggles and triumphs of pop diva Celine Dion's rise to fame and her relationship with music manager Rene…
Step Up 2: The Streets (2008): Dir. Jon Chu
Feat. Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Adam G. Sevani…; Sequel to the hip–hop dance hit flick following a group of young street dancers battling for supremacy. Well–orchestrated…
Telstar (Telstar: The Joe Meek Story) (2008): Dir. Nick Moran
Feat. Con O' Neill, Kevin Spacey, Pam Ferris…; Suitably poppy biopic of the rise and fall of flamboyant music producer Joe Meek whose pioneering sound experiments briefly made him the toast of…
August Rush (2007): Dir. Kirsten Sheridan
Feat. Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers…; Celebrating the inspiring power of music, this captivating drama follows the quest of an orphaned musical prodigy who uses his gift to find his…
Control (2007): Dir. Anton Corbijn
Feat. Sam Riley, Samantha Morton, Alexandra Maria Lara; Revered music–scene photographer and video–maker Anton Corbijn makes a fitting directorial debut with this moving–image portrait of…
Honeydripper (2007): Dir. John Sayles
Feat. Danny Glover, Keb Mo, Mable John; Musical drama featuring a number of blues musicians in acting roles, from director John Sayles (LONESTAR). Set in rural Alabama in the 50's, where a…
I'm Not There (2007): Dir. Todd Haynes
Feat. Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger…; Arthouse maestro Todd Haynes directs this deliciously cinematic, kaleidoscopic musing on the life of Bob Dylan, with six different actors portraying…
La Vie en Rose (2007): Dir. Olivier Dahan
Feat. Marion Cotillard, Sylvie Testud, Emmanuelle Seigner…; Marion Cotillard excels (and deservingly won a Best Actress Oscar) in this stunning new biopic of the life and times of French singer Edith…
Miss Marie Lloyd (2007): Dir. James Hawes
Feat. Jessica Wallace, Richard Armitage, Shaun Parkes…; Vintage–styled bio–pic dramatising the life of Miss Marie Lloyd – a scandalous Music Hall performer renowned for her lewd songs…
Dreamgirls (2006): Dir. Bill Condon
Feat. Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy…; Dazzling musical numbers and sassy performances jive in this acclaimed Motown musical charting the rise of fictional girl group, 'The Dreamettes', in…
El Cantante (2006): Dir. Leon Ichaso
Feat. Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony; Off–screen couple Lopez and Anthony team up to portray salsa singer Héctor Lavoe and his wife Puchi in this musical bio–pic documenting…
Once (2006): Dir. John Carney
Feat. Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova, Hugh Walsh; A gorgeous, understated paean to the transformative power of music, this unique, Irish independent follows the burgeoning relationship between a…
Singer, The (Quand j'étais chanteur) (2006): Dir. Xavier Giannoli
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Cecile De France, Mathieu Amalric; Gerard Depardieu works his rotund charm as a journeyman lounge singer, crooning his way through half–empty nightclubs while forging an unlikely…
Brothers of the Head (2005): Dir. Keith Fulton, Louis Pepe
Feat. Harry Treadaway, Luke Treadaway; Believably real mockumentary centres around the carnivalesque (mis)fortunes of Siamese twins who get manufactured into punk rock sensations.…
Elvis: The Early Years (2005): Dir. James Steven Sadwith
Feat. Johnathon Rhys-Myers, Randy Quaid, Rose McGowan…; Glossy look at Elvis' early years leading up to his joining the army. Superficial with a silly script but the performances are something else with…
Hustle and Flow (2005): Dir. Craig Brewer
Feat. Terrence Howard, Isaac Hayes, DJ Qualls…; A Memphis pimp (Terrence Howard) tries to break out from his scuzzy, middle–aged existence by persuading an old friend (DJ Qualls) to help…
Shania (A Life in Eight Albums) (2005): Dir. Jerry Ciccoritti
Feat. Megan Follows, Meredith Henderson; Music biopic mapping out the life of country music's mainstream sweetheart Shania Twain from a typically plain childhood, the drive to become a…
Shooting Livien (2005): Dir. Rebecca Cook
Feat. Jason Behr, Dominic Monaghan, Joshua Leonard…; Minor–key indie rock movie about a talented New York musician who becomes increasingly disillusioned and unstable on the brink of…
Stoned (2005): Dir. Stephen Woolley
Feat. Leo Gregory, Paddy Considine, David Morrissey…; A kaleidoscopic portrait of Brian Jones, the charismatic yet contrary founder of "The Rolling Stones". Re–imagining the rock star’s…
Two Sons of Francisco (2 Filhos de Francisco) (2005): Dir. Breno Silveira; Hugely popular in its Brazilian homeland, this endearing rags–to–riches biopic charts the improbable rise to fame of two of Brazil's most…
9 Songs (Nine Songs) (2004): Dir. Michael Winterbottom
Feat. Margo Stilley, Kieran O'Brien; A controversially explicit sex'n'rock'n' roll drama about two stray souls – an American student and a British bloke – who over a year…
Beyond the Sea (2004): Dir. Kevin Spacey
Feat. Kevin Spacey, John Goodman, Kate Bosworth…; A schmaltzy valentine to the king of big band cool, Kevin Spacey’s pet project gushingly illuminates the life and times of Bobby Darin, whose good…
Exils (Exiles) (2004): Dir. Tony Gatlif
Feat. Romain Duris; Possibly dir. Gatlif's most exuberant and personal film yet, this observes a bohemian French couple's journey southwards to their family's respective…
One Perfect Day (2004): Dir. Paul Currie
Feat. Dan Spielman, Leeanna Walsman, Nathan Phillips; Praying at the altar of rave culture, this music–tribute drama set in Melbourne will find a small appreciative audience, but it plays a…
Overture, The (Hom rong) (2004): Dir. Ittisoontorn Vichailak
Feat. Anuchit Sapanpong, Aratee Tanmahapran; Biopic exploring the life of Thai musical master Luang Pradit Pairoh (Sorn Silapabanleng), who was a palace musician and ra–nad ek (Thai…
Ray (2004): Dir. Taylor Hackford
Feat. Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington; The life and career of innovative blues–singer Ray Charles (here played by Jamie Foxx) gets epic and reverential treatment in this…
Company, The (Das Ensemble) (2003): Dir. Robert Altman
Feat. Neve Campbell, Malcolm McDowell, James Franco; Arch–auteur Robert Altman pirouettes his way through a multi–stranded drama about a Chicago–based ballet company, set mainly round…
Loop Select 005 (incl. Two Cars One Night) (2003): Dir. Taika Waititi, Patrick Gillies, Michael Duignan; Compilation of 9 music videos and 8 short films from New Zealand. Artists and bands include 'Black Seeds', 'Trinity Roots', Anika Moa and…
24 Hour Party People (2002): Dir. Michael Winterbottom
Feat. Steve Coogan, Andy Serkis, Paddy Considine…; A serio–comic music industry biopic about one Tony Wilson, founder of the legendary Factory record label and the Hacienda Club, that provides a…
8 Mile (Eight Mile) (2002): Dir. Curtis Hanson
Feat. Eminem, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer…; Mainstream feature film vehicle for white rap star Eminem has a narrative typical of the “youth craze” genre – young working class wannabe…
Drumline (2002): Dir. Charles Stone III
Feat. Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, Orlando Jones; Depicting the journey of a talented street drummer from Harlem into the world of big–time stadium marching bands, this is short on story moves,…
Garage Days (2002): Dir. Alex Proyas
Feat. Pia Miranda, Maya Stange, Kick Curry…; A young garage band in Sydney look for their big break, while coping with love, drugs and everyday life, in a frisky though oddly–toned…
Laurel Canyon (2002): Dir. Lisa Cholodenko
Feat. Frances McDormand, Christian Bale, Kate Beckinsale…; Dropping in on the LA music scene, the writer–director of HIGH ART returns to her pet theme of conservatism yielding to a bohemianism, but…
Down and Out With the Dolls (2001): Dir. Kurt Voss; Based around the rise and fall of an all–grrl goth–rock band in early 1990s Portland, Oregon, this packs enough scene authenticity to…
Glitter (2001): Dir. Vondie Curtis Hall
Feat. Mariah Carey, Max Beesley; Set in the early 1980's, pop idol Mariah Carey plays a teenage(!) girl who, unsurprisingly, is eager to become a famous pop–singer. Of course…
Hysteria - The Def Leppard Story (2001): Dir. Robert Mandel; Of interest to fans of the British heavy metallers who hit the big time in the 1980s, and anyone else who had ‘Pyromania’ or…
One Night the Moon (2001): Dir. Rachel Perkins
Feat. Paul Kelly, Kaarin Fairfax, Kelton Pell; A unique short feature, which tells the story of a true 1930s mystery using the songs of Paul Kelly, who also stars. A young girl disappears one…
Strictly Sinatra (Cocozza's Way) (2001): Dir. Peter Capaldi
Feat. Ian Hart, Brian Cox, Kelly MacDonald; Smalltime Scottish crooner Ian Hart has a thing about Frank Sinatra and like his idol flirts a little too closely with the criminal element. This…
Almost Famous (2000): Dir. Cameron Crowe
Feat. Billy Crudup, Jason Lee, Kate Hudson…; The best music drama yet committed to film (SPINAL TAP was a comedy), this is a vibrant and bracingly assured portrait of rock music fanaticism in…
Hendrix (2000): Dir. Leon Ichaso
Feat. Wood Harris, Billy Zane; TV–Movie biopic of the rock guitarist and 60s icon Jimi Hendrix (Wood Harris) that pushes all the predictable buttons: psychedelic drug…
Two of Us (2000): Dir. Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Feat. Aidan Quinn, Jared Harris; TV–movie centred around the intriguing prospect of a mid–70s meeting in New York between John Lennon (Quinn) and Paul McCartney (Harris).…
Blue Valley Songbird (1999): Dir. Richard A. Colla
Feat. Dolly Parton, John Terry, Beth Grant; Agreeable musical drama starring Ms. Dolly Parton as an aspirant Nashville saloon singer trying to find her way into the big time while dealing with…
Gloomy Sunday (Ein Lied Von Liebe Und Tod) (1999): Dir. Rolf Schubel
Feat. Joachim Krol, Erika Marozsan, Ben Becker…; Captivating drama which pivots around the apocryphal origins of the classic melancholy song 'Gloomy Sunday' in pre–WW2 Budapest. An amiably…
Sunset Strip (1999): Dir. Adam Collis
Feat. Jared Leto, Tommy Flanagan, Adam Goldberg…; Not the BOOGIE–NIGHTS–retread it appears, this intimate, reflective tribute to Los Angeles' hedonistic club…
Temptations, The (TV Mini-Series) (1998): Dir. Allan Arkush
Feat. Charles Malik Whitfield, D.B. Woodside, Terron Brooks…; Stirring biography of the singers who formed the hit Motown musical act, The Temptations.
Selena (1997): Dir. Gregory Nava
Feat. Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos; Worthy biopic of the Latin–American pop star who on the verge of crossing over into the American market was tragically murdered.
Yo-Yo Ma - Inspired by Bach Vol. 2 (Falling Down Stairs / Sarabande) (1997): Dir. Barbara Willis Sweete, Atom Egoyan
Feat. Arsinee Khanjian, Don McKellar; Cellist Yo–Yo Ma’s celebrated musical exploration of Bach’s enigmatic solo cello suites, prompted six films, attempting to complement the…
Tina - What's Love Got to Do with It (1993): Dir. Brian Gibson
Feat. Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne; Exemplary musical biopic about legendary soulstress Tina Turner that soars thanks to two powerhouse performances from Angela Bassett as Tina and…
Jacksons, The - An American Dream (1992): Dir. Karen Arthur
Feat. Wylie Draper, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Angela Bassett…; Soapy account of the dysfunctional Jackson family follows them to the top of the charts first as The Jackson Five and then solo success. Skipping a…
Commitments, The (1991): Dir. Alan Parker
Feat. Colm Meaney; Surprise hit simply chronicles the rise and fall of a Dublin soul band, formed by a group of teens with naught better to do. Unashamedly light fare,…
Beat Street (1984): Dir. Stan Lathan
Feat. Rae Dawn Chong, Guy Davis; Key film in the history of hip–hop culture, this urban musical may show its age and derivation (SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER), but still comprises an…
Breakdance - The Movie (Breakin’) (1984): Dir. Joel Silberg
Feat. Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo Quinones, Michael Chambers; The excellent, highly athletic breakdance performances will be the prime value to hiphop enthusiasts in this FLASHDANCE–clone, which now has a…
Breakdance 2 - Electric Boogaloo (Breakin' 2) (1984): Dir. Sam Firstenberg
Feat. Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo Quinones, Michael Chambers; Less–hokey sequel to BREAKDANCE, with a storyline centred on a group of teens and dancers who try to save a community rec–centre from a…
Rembetiko (1983): Dir. Costas Ferris
Feat. Sotiria Leonardou, Nikos Kalogeropoulos, Michalis Maniatis; Stirring fictionalized biopic of Marika Ninou, a Greek Rebetiko (urban Greek folk music) singer who lived through some of the most dramatic…
Svengali (1983): Dir. Anthony Harvey
Feat. Peter O'Toole, Jodie Foster, Holly Hunter; Has been vocalist turned singing instructor O'Toole takes young rocker Foster under his wings. By all accounts a complete misfire. Though if you can…
Wild Style (1982): Dir. Charles Ahearn; The Hip–hop movement had it first wide impact via this documentary–drama shot on the streets of The Bronx in 1982. With its close…
Jazz Singer, The (1980): Dir. Richard Fleischer
Feat. Neil Diamond, Laurence Olivier; Tepid updating of the 1927 Al Jolson film, this has singer–songwriter Neil Diamond debut as a... er, songwriter, who must choose between…
One Trick Pony (1980): Dir. Robert M Young
Feat. Paul Simon, Blair Brown, Rip Torn…; Interesting tale of rock–star, played by Paul Simon, undergoing personal crises.
Rude Boy (1980): Dir. Hazan, Mingay
Feat. Jimmy Pursey, Johnny Green; Semi–doco in which a teenage punk is forced to choose political allegiances while scamming a roadie job with the Clash. Features nine Clash…
Rose, The (1979): Dir. Mark Rydell
Feat. Bette Midler; Bette Midler's acting debut was this raunchy rock biopic based loosely on the antics of Janis Joplin. She is given plenty of room here to display her…
Bound for Glory (1976): Dir. Hal Ashby
Feat. David Carradine, Ronny Cox, Melinda Dillon…; Superbly made biopic of folksinger Woody Guthrie, set during the tail–end of the Great Depression as Guthrie makes his way across dustbowl…
That'll Be the Day (1973): Dir. Claude Whatham
Feat. David Essex, Ringo Starr, James Booth…; Popstar David Essex plays a British working–class youth who rejects the staid conformity of 50's Britain and eventually drifts into the…
Lady Sings the Blues (1972): Dir. Sidney J. Furie
Feat. Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor…; Diana Ross is terrific in her acting debut as famously–troubled jazz legend Billie Holiday in this flawed but fascinating biographical drama…
Tchaikovsky (1969): Dir. Igor Talankin; Dramatised biopic of the great Russian composer which uses natural imagery and impressionistic structure in a way reminiscent of Ken Russell's early…
Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach (1968): Dir. Daniele Huillet, Jean-Marie Straub
Feat. Gustav Leonhardt, Christiane Lang; Less astringent than the reputation of husband and wife filmmakers Straub–Huillet would suggest, this lean but invigorating treatment of Johann…
Ken Russell at the BBC (Elgar; Debussy; Always on Sunday; Isadora; Dante's Inferno; Song of Summer) (1962-1968): Dir. Ken Russell
Feat. Oliver Reed, Vladek Sheybal, Vernon Dobtcheff…; The engrossing early works of the controversial director comprises six of his famed artist portraits
Paris Blues (1961): Dir. Martin Ritt
Feat. Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, Joanne Woodward…; Undernourished romantic drama has Newman and Poitier as Jazz musicians on holiday in Paris forced to decide whether to stay or return to the U.S. for…
Benny Goodman Story, The (1956): Dir. Valentine Davies
Feat. Steve Allen, Donna Reed; Biopic of swing band leader Benny Goodman from age 10 (in 1919) to his landmark Carnegie Hall band concert in 1938. Not exactly historically…
Song to Remember, A (1945): Dir. Charles Vidor
Feat. Paul Muni, Merle Oberon, Cornel Wilde; Biopic on the life of Polish pianist and composer Frederic Chopin, taking a few liberties here and there to follow the child prodigy through his…
Great Waltz, The (The Life of Johann Strauss) (1938): Dir. Julien Duvivier
Feat. Fernand Gravey, Luise Rainer, Lionel Atwill; The lIfe story of Johann Strauss is given a rich if somewhat corny treatment in this otherwise well–mounted musical biopic.

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