Subgenre Sampler
Rental > Drama > Music: 131 Films to Rent on DVD
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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.
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…