Movies and music go hand in hand as two parts of the art worldthat require a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to produce. It’s unsurprising that so many great films are about music and musicians, as these are inherently dramatic and emotional subjects, making them perfect for the cinematic process. Projects likeInside Llewyn Davisdraw from real periods and experiences but take them one step further, fictionalizing them for modern audiences and increasing tension. Since a movie would be incomplete with music, it’s not much of a stretch to make this the subject of a film.
Many of thebest movies about musicinclude entire musical numbers or chronicle the story of a real person, but these works are more concerned with the abstract concept of music. From films that tackle the emotional drain and struggle of dedicating a life to the pursuit of a music career to movies that glamorize it, there are many ways that filmmakers engage with music onscreen. No matter what perspective the writers and directors have on the music scene, all of these projects use music as a tool for developing the characters and their relationships with the world.
Oscar Isaac gives voice to the beat generation inInside Llewyn Davis,the Coen Brothers' music movie that focuses on the uniquely unglamorous experience of the fictional musician Llewyn Davis. Also starring Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, and Justin Timberlake,Inside Llewyn Davisfeatures a few performances of folk songs, similar to the music used in the Coens' other project,O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Though the film has a distinctly melancholic tone, it doesn’t make us less interested in Davis.
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Inside Llewyn Davisis largely considered one of the manyBob Dylan movies other thanA Complete Unknown, though it’s a fictionalization of a figure similar to the iconic musician. However, Llewyn Davis himself is an amalgamation of many musicians of the era, drawing even more concrete comparisons to Dave Van Ronk. Though it’s set against the Village folk scene of the early 1960s,Inside Llewyn Davishas a much more cynical view of this period and its music than other projects.
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Many great American music movies focus on the jazz genre. Jazz music is a significant part of the country’s cultural heritage, andSoultackles how deeply this connection is felt. The protagonist ofSoul,Joe, voiced by Jamie Foxx, is a jazz lover who harbors dreams of being a famous jazz pianist.This ambition and desire for greatness fuel Joe throughout the narrative, as he believes that his purpose on earth is to play beautiful music no matter what.
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Set in the late 1970s,Detroit Rock Cityis an incredibly nostalgic teen movie that follows a group of young men on their slapstick and arduous journey to see the band Kiss in concert in Detroit. Every moment ofDetroit Rock Cityis a comedy of errors, aseach of the boys goes to extreme lengths to get into the concert,resulting in physical altercations, theft, and robbery, none of which work. Though it’s not a nuanced take on the love of music, it’s a hilarious teen romp that will remind viewers of a simpler time.
The central characters have decent chemistry, and the happy ending makes it easy to watch.
Featuring short appearances from iconic actors like Melanie Lynskey and Natasha Lyonne,Detroit Rock Cityis as much a comedy about the friendship and connection between a group of boys at the end of their high school career as it is about Kiss. Though it isn’t a well-remembered addition to the teen comedy or music genres,Detroit Rock Cityis an over-the-top exploration of how far fans will go for a band they truly love. The central characters have decent chemistry, and the happy ending makes it easy to watch.
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All of Damien Chazelle’s movieshave a deep connection to art and music, and few exemplify this as much as hisWhiplash. The film skyrocketed Chazelle to fame as a director and writer.Whiplashstars Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons as the young drummer, Andrew, and his abusive band director, Terence.Whiplashis in conversation with the sacrifices and obsession that great art elicitsin people. Though Andrew is changed and somewhat destroyed by his dynamic with Terence,Whiplashsees him become a better drummer than ever.
Whiplashenjoys provoking conversation and pushing Teller to his limits in his performance as Andrew. The movie doesn’t suggest that Terence’s behavior is good or excusable, but it doesn’t deny that it got results out of Andrew.Whiplashgrapples with a darker side of music that isn’t always easy to stomach. Immediately hailed for being a truthful exploration of the supposed elite world of high-pressure musical performance,Whiplashremains one of Chazelle’s tightest and most cohesive projects.
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Riz Ahmed carries the weight ofSound of Metalon his shoulders throughout the movie, but the actor never falters during the emotionally taxing journey of his character. Ruben (Ahmed) is a heavy metal drummer who begins to lose his hearing, sparking intense distress from him and his longtime girlfriend, Lou (Olivia Cooke). As a musician, Ruben struggles to adapt to life without his hearing, andhe creates deep mental ties between his life as a musician before and his happiness.
Sound of Metalends on a bittersweet and open-ended conclusion, as Ruben has evolved and begun to realize that his life has simply changed, not that it’s over.
Sound of Metalends on a bittersweet and open-ended conclusion, as Ruben has evolved and begun to realize that his life has simply changed, not that it’s over. However, many parts of his past can’t come with him into his future, and his relationship with music must change. There are many beautiful moments inSound of Metalwhen Ruben reflects on the rhythm and feel of drumming, recognizing music as more than its sounds.
Sound of Metal (2019)
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Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore return to their rom-com roots inMusic and Lyrics, a love story about a fading pop star and a young woman with dreams of writing. Grant plays Alex, the washed-up singer, with Barrymore portraying Sophie, a young woman who was discouraged from writing by a former professor. Though Grant and Barrymore typically go far different niches of the genre,their easy chemistry and good-natured performances elevateMusic and Lyrics.
Like most romantic comedies that feature music, there are a few musical numbers. However, these either serve as comedic relief to punctuate more serious moments or bring the story home in an emotional climax. ThoughMusic and Lyricscould be criticized for being predictable and formulaic, it’s a charming rom-com that uses music as a means for its characters to connect with each other. Reflecting on the long-term legacy of pop stardom in the modern era,Music and Lyricstreats its characters kindly and leaves the audience satisfied.
Music and Lyrics (2007)
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As one ofCate Blanchett’s best movies,Társees the actress transform into the ambitious conductor Lydia Tár, who wastes no time in making it clear she believes herself to be the next Leonard Bernstein. LikeThe Brutalist,Táris part of the tradition ofmovies that feel so real and truthful that it’s hard to believe they’re not a biopic.However,Táris pure fiction, playing with our preconceptions about power and manipulation through the lens of the arrogant and insecure Lydia Tár.
Watching her rise and fall before us onscreen with the thundering score playing behind her makesTára thrill from start to end.
The director, Todd Field, has been very particular about his projects, with few credits to his name, but all of his movies hit it out of the park likeTárdoes. Though the world of classical music is alien to many audience members,Tármakes it vivid and accessible, relating Lydia’s desire for power to the intense artists we’re used to seeing onscreen. Watching her rise and fall before us onscreen with the thundering score playing behind her makesTára thrill from start to end.
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This cult classic rom-com might not have the most aspirational romance in cinema history, but its style and aesthetic have inspired generations of viewers. John Cusack gives an iconic performance as Rob, the record store owner who remembers his lost loves through his highly detailed record collection and mixtapes, recalling the ups and downs of his life and relationships.Unlike his romances, Rob takes music very seriously,using it both as an escape from reality and a way for him to express all the emotions he struggles to articulate.
High Fidelitybriefly got a TV show remake in 2020 starring Zoë Kravitz, but the series was short-lived, failing to live up to the nostalgia and love for the original. Though Cusack’s work as Rob anchors the project,High Fidelityis also notable for bringing greater attention to the comedic work of Jack Black,who was relatively unknown at the time. Though Rob is far from the perfect boyfriend, it’s easy to relate to his disastrous attempts at love as he clings to music as a source of healing, as most people do.
Winning Best Picture at the Oscars helpedCODAbe recognized on a greater scale,taking this American remake of the French filmLa Famille Bélierand giving it a life of its own. Centering on Rubi (Emilia Jones), the hearing child of deaf parents,CODAsees Ruby struggle with her commitments to her family and their fishing business and her desire to go to music school for college. Though we do see Ruby sing throughoutCODA, the dramedy isn’t a musical, as the bulk of the story revolves around Ruby’s dynamic with her parents and brother.
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Though the fact that Ruby is hearing and the rest of her family is deaf heightens the conflict between them, her desire to break out from their expectations and forge her own path is a universal experience.Music plays a crucial role in her decision to explore a new facet of her talents and abilities,but it’s more of a catalyst for Ruby’s development than the deeply spiritual calling it’s sometimes made out to be onscreen. Ruby’s love for music and singing gives her permission to find her way outside her family, showing a new side of the genre.
CODA (2021)
Inone of Kate Hudson’s best performances,the actress gives audiences an inside look into the reverse side of fame, the dedicated fan who will do anything for the music. Her character, Penny Lane, is the tragic center ofAlmost Famous, a coming-of-age story that chronicles William’s (Patrick Fugit) journey following an up-and-coming rock band on the road in the 1970s. Like William, we’re taken on an unforgettable adventure deep into the world of glamour and grime that was rock music during this era.
The ensemble cast is what cementsAlmost Famousas a classic,as acting heavyweights like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Crudup, and Zooey Deschanel all appear in the film. For all the characters in the movie, but William, most of all, music is an escape from the terrors and tragedies of real life, at least at first.Almost Famousshows every side of a fledgling band’s struggle for success. We see how easily the importance of music can be clouded by the emotional turmoil of fame.
