Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of Baz Lurhmann’s Elvis, we’re counting down our favorite music biopics! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
The Buddy Holly Story does for biopics what I think all biopics are attempting: it takes a person that many people know something about and shows the interesting parts, in dramatic fashion, as to why that person was notable. But while I knew some of who Buddy Holly was, some of his music, and of course his unfortunate passing, I had no idea the actual legacy on rock and roll the man left behind. The Buddy Holly Story focuses on three years of Holly’s life, beginning with his initial discovery, and ending with the untimely passing. And it’s a testament to what he was able to accomplish in just three years. At the root of it all is Gary Busey. Long before the memes, Gary Busey almost literally stepped into the shoes of Buddy Holly and delivers what might just be a career-best performance. Remarkably, Busey does everything for real, including live singing and playing with no overdub, and you can really tell. He also perfectly distills everything that Holly was, as well as his impact on the world, into the performance, rising above imitation to the near embodiment of the rock icon. It’s a performance for the ages and the single biggest reason why you should watch the movie. In addition, the movie looks great with exceptional direction and a true authentic feel for what was a very low budget. It’s a ton of fun and ultimately a wonderful love letter to both Buddy Holly and to rock and roll. (Nashua Doll)
The Beach Boys are iconic; there is seldom anyone who can deny this. However, I have to admit, I never knew (or cared for that matter) much about them. I knew the favourite songs, the most famous of which was ingrained in my soul due to its prominent spot in the Christmas classic, Love Actually (God Only Knows for those at home), but that was pretty much it. So color me pleasantly surprised when I happened across Love & Mercy one night, and was introduced to a film that was intimate, tragic, and beautifully engaging to its core. For those that don’t know, this film follows the head man of The Beach Boys,Brian Wilson, through two periods of his life. The first is at the heights of the band’s fame, when his psychosis diagnosis started to show, and the second was years later, wherein he had been locked in and taken advantage of by a greedy therapist. While the above may sound dark, this is really a film of hope, one that looks to the good in people, and how anyone can overcome their trials if they just have people that believe in them. It’s a movie about relationships, music, and the struggles of genius mixed with mental illness, and it’s worth watching every minute. A high recommend indeed! (Alice-Ginevra Micheli)
Can you get more a more classic music biopic than Walk the Line? This came out at the peak of the rebirth of the music biopic in the early 2000s. It spotlights one of the most legendary musicians and performers in the history of music: Johnny Cash. James Mangold brings a modern resurgence of the classic Hollywood style of filmmaking. You also have one of the greatest actors of his generation (Joaquin Phoenix) portraying Cash. This film set the tone for music biopics to follow (including inspiring the music biopic spoof of Walk Hard). Top-notch acting and direction makes this classically structured biopic feel fresh and impactful. This one certainly sets the bar. (Shane Conto)
Some of my favorite movies of all time are ones that really lean into the idea of chasing our dream and living life to its fullest. For that alone, this week I’m going to talk to you all about tick, tick…BOOM!,a film based on one of Jonathan Larson’s earliest plays before his untimely death at age 35. This movie has it all: an infectious soundtrack, absolutely phenomenal performances, great camerawork, and some truly moving emotional moments. It also has a message I can wholeheartedly get behind: chase your dreams, but don’t let those dreams cast down those you love and who love you. I can safely say there are few movies that have given me moments of pure joy followed by being brought to tears. So stop the clock, take timeout, and give this movie a much needed view. (Joseph Davis)
One of the most influential hip hop acts of all time got their biopic treatment in 2015, as NWA’s rise and eventual dissolution were brought to the big screen in Straight Outta Compton. It explored how Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson Jr.), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell), and the rest of the group became the voices of a generation by sharing their experiences in Compton, California, and created plenty of controversy along the way. Our main trio are all giving fantastic performances. Jackson is superb, playing the role of his father, as is Hawkins in the role of Dre. While those of us born in the ’90s are familiar with those two, the same cannot be said of Eazy. Mitchell is just as good as — if not better than — than his co-stars, with perhaps the most emotional work. At nearly two and a half hours, the movie hits the key moments, including a riotous performance and a jaw-dropping diss, without overstaying its welcome. A great supporting performance by Paul Giamatti as the group’s slimy manager may steal scenes, but at its core, Straight Outta Compton knows where to put its focus and compellingly chronicles one of music’s most influential forces. (Jake Bourgeois)
For those of you who are familiar with Joy Division beyond just having heard “Love Will Tear Us Apart”, you know that Control isn’t going to be a happy movie — though you’d be forgiven for thinking it would be a lot more geared towards the production of the band’s two albums. It’s much more of an Ian Curtis biopic than an account of Joy Division, however, and the role the band plays within the examination of his brief life serves more to highlight how the loss of control over his life ultimately drove him to the brink. It’s a movie that’s a lot more interested in the young man that lived a fairly mundane life and played in a band, than it is in the idea of a band’s rise to stardom. Given where the story naturally finds its ending, that makes a lot of sense, but the struggles with mental health and the pressures of fame that it highlights are all the more powerful for it. It’s a hard watch given the dour tone it takes, and you have to be ready to be miserable for two hours, but there’s value in the small, intimate scope of one person who wasn’t made for stardom. (Chris Bakker)
Topsy-Turvy tells the story of Gilbert and Sullivan, the Victorian-era writing and composing duo whose comic operas have endured for decades. The film is directed by Mike Leigh, one of the greatest and most under-appreciated directors alive. As with all of Leigh’s films, Topsy-Turvy began without a script. Leigh’s process begins by forming detailed character outlines through individual sit-down discussions with each of his actors. Leigh and his cast then conduct many months of improvisational sessions, during which Leigh carefully notes many of the best moments, which then form the shooting script. This process is more than just a gimmick, because it results in the most naturalistic performances you will ever see. Gilbert and Sullivan are terrifically portrayed by Jim Broadbent and Allan Corduner respectively, but Topsy-Turvy’s true strength lies in its epic ensemble cast filled with great British character actors like Timothy Spall, Shirley Henderson, Lesley Manville, and Andy Serkis. Gratefully, Topsy Turvy never falls into the music biopic trap of simply recounting notable events in the lives of its protagonists. On the contrary, it is a delightful slice-of-life film, brimming with humor, emotion, and, of course, lots of music. Though I am not too familiar with Gilbert and Sullivan’s work, it seems that those who are find the film’s depiction of their operas to be pitch-perfect with just the right amount of whimsy and heart. (Foster Harlfinger)
As someone whose dad used to put on a classic country show for the drive to church every Sunday, I was familiar with Loretta Lynn and her work, but I’d never taken the opportunity to watch Coal Miner’s Daughter before this week. Sissy Spacek plays Lynn in a role that won her the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Though Lynn is constantly shown singing throughout the movie, I was surprised that her music career only takes up the second half. The film takes its time to show us her family life — mainly how she comes to meet and marry her husband Doolittle (Tommy Lee Jones) before it becomes about her music career. It’s when it gets to this second portion that it really sings. Yes, I’m sure being able to hear some familiar tunes was part of my enjoyment, but I genuinely enjoyed the musical aspect. The fact that both Spacek and Beverley D’Angelo (as Patsy Cline) did their own vocals just adds to the experience. Getting to see how Lynn’s life evolves from the opening frame to the final performance is striking and a great way to conclude the film visually. (Jake Bourgeois)
I admit it. Please don’t hate me. Are you ready for it? Up until last night, Amadeus was a list of shame movie for me. Pro tip for anyone looking to watch this for the first time: starting Amadeus at 11:30 p.m. is probably not the best idea, since it’s a nearly three-hour movie. I was floored at how much this exceeded my already sky high expectations because so many movie fans that I trust hold this in such high regard. Everything about this movie is fantastic, from the costumes, to the set design, to the story. The direction is also fantastic, and Milos Forman was on a hot streak with all the movies and musicals he was directing at the time. I like how this is not directly from Mozart’s perspective, but that of a rival composer in Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham). Abraham deserved the Oscar for this performance, but props for sure need to go to Tom Hulce for his portrayal of Mozart. The sharp dialogue was funny and showed how obsessed and jealous Salieri was of Mozart’s talent. Amadeus rightfully won seven other Academy Awards and will be regarded as an all-time great movie. This will be added to my favorites for sure. (Mike Hilty)
The Pianist is one of the most difficult movies to watch, but it’s also one of the most important. Director Roman Polanski drew on real-life experience to craft a hauntingly realistic atmosphere. Within the first 15 minutes, I was shaking with anger and horror, and less than 30 minutes in I was crying. Both those feelings linger throughout the movie. Starting with a bombing in the opening minute as Adrien Brody’s Wladyslaw Szpilman plays piano on the radio, the film maintains its breakneck pace throughout showing the horrors of World War II in Warsaw, Poland from 1939 through 1945. It keeps you in a state of abject terror as you anxiously await the next atrocity. From heartbreakingly brutal murders to the bodies of both young and old lining the streets, the disturbing imagery of The Pianist sticks with you long after the credits roll. That the film was able to humanize a German officer amidst all this was nothing short of miraculous. It’s refreshing to watch a musical biopic that doesn’t play like an extended video for a greatest hits album. Music performances are sparse, but it is a central element of Wladyslaw and his enduring spirit. The scarcity of performances also heightens the impact any time he does play, and it goes beyond the diegetic as the score brilliantly sets the mood throughout. Brody was well deserving of his Best Actor victory, as he proved equally adept at playing a cockeyed optimist and a broken man. (Jason Mack)
Shine
Shine is worth watching for one very specific reason: Geoffrey Rush. In one of his first ever on-screen appearances, Rush stars as Australian concert pianist David Helfgott. The film contains your standard biopic fare, but Rush’s performance as Helfgott is so outstanding that it single-handedly launched his film career and won him the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, beating out bona fide stars like Tom Cruise, Ralph Fiennes, Woody Harrelson, and Billy Bob Thornton. Shine tackles three main aspects of Helfgott’s life: his musical training, his strained relationship with his father, and his struggles with mental illness. Given that we see Helfgott from a very young age, actors Alex Rafalowicz and Noah Taylor portray him in his earlier years. Taylor, in particular, is given an especially generous portion of the film’s runtime to shine (pun intended!), and deserves as much praise as Rush for his inspired work in this film. If you are a fan of emotionally affecting father-son stories and utterly incredible performances, Shine is an excellent film that is unfortunately not talked about enough. (Foster Harlfinger)
Rocketman
I for one love biopics, especially ones about musicians, and I think a good one should always encourage you to check out the artist’s music. Rocketman did that for me, and getting to listen to some great tracks from Sir Elton John made this movie that much better. This movie tells the story of the rise and fall and rise of John (Taron Egerton), who has an amazing voice. The film is brought together with a compelling story, amazing visuals, and unsurprisingly given the subject, stellar costumes. Many of John’s most famous songs are incorporated into the story and aren’t just used as ways to get through the story. One of my favorite visuals is when Elton gets up on stage in a bedazzled baseball uniform and literally floats while singing through the song “Rocket Man”. This was truly a great film that highlighted John’s struggles and addictions to come to terms with who he is and to become the amazing man he is today. If you haven’t seen this one yet, it is truly one you don’t want to miss. (Austen Terry)
Green Book
Green Book is based on the story of Dr. Donald Shirley (Mahershala Ali), a famous African American pianist who scheduled a music tour through the deep south in the 1960s, and the friendship that forms between him and his Italian American driver, Tony (Viggo Mortensen). The movie at its core is an “odd couple” story where the primary focus is race and class relations at a time when it was even more problematic than it is today. To get the elephant in the room out of the way early, this movie was also the controversial 2018 Best Picture winner at the Academy Awards. Whether you agree or disagree with the academy’s choice, I feel Green Book is unfairly judged based on that award. Green Book would not have been my first pick that year — it wasn’t even my third pick — but it was one of my favorite movies of the year. The movie’s humor is its crowning achievement; Mortensen plays the ignorant, uncultured dope so well, and Ali nails the straight man delivery of all their interactions. I love the way that this friendship blossoms, and I will always be a sucker for a story in which two people can learn to put aside their differences to understand each other. If you haven’t seen Green Book, please don’t let the Oscar backlash put you off from giving it a chance, because it is a delightful movie that has something to say, even if there are more prestigious movies tackling the same message. (Nick Ferro)
Sid and Nancy
Sid and Nancy depicts the relationship between Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen in the final year before her death in October 1978. The film lives and dies on the performances of its title characters. The magical shape-shifting wizard known as Gary Oldman stars as Sid in an expectedly transformative performance, but Chloe Webb’s portrayal of Nancy is no less impressive. Though you will hear music throughout, the film is much less of a musical than your traditional music biopic. Rather than a straightforward chronicling of the Sex Pistols’ rise to prominence, Sid and Nancy narrows its focus on the relationship of our leads and the unfortunate circumstances which led to Nancy’s death. As a result, the movie itself is often difficult to watch. Though scattered with occasional moments of dark humor throughout, this is a grungy, haunting, and tragic film. Even so, Sid and Nancy has an undeniably hypnotizing quality, thanks to the subtly gorgeous and memorable cinematography from director of photography Roger Deakins in one of his earliest feature films. Knowing where Sid and Nancy’s stories end, you can’t help but feel drawn to watching their final moments unfold, even if you feel the need to take a shower once you’re done. (Foster Harlfinger)
La Bamba
La Bamba is a story of the flames that burn twice as bright and half as long. This biographical film depicts the young rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens, showcasing his humble beginnings to meteoric rise in the music industry in the ‘50s. Valens’ most notable songs are “We Belong Together”, “Donna”, “Stay Beside Me”, “Come on”, “Let’s Go”, and of course “La Bamba”. Lou Diamond Phillips does an excellent job playing the talented and enthusiastic Valens, and playing opposite him for a large portion of the film is Esai Morales as his brother Bob. Though they are brothers, they couldn’t be more different from one another — Ritchie is sincere, whereas Bob is very manipulative. Watching the fluctuation of their relationship is heartbreaking as well as entertaining throughout the film. A sad portion of Valens’ legacy is that he had to change his name in order not to allude to his Mexican and Indigenous heritage (his actual name Richard Steven Valenzuela). I grew up watching La Bamba, and I still enjoy it to this day. (Joe Vargas)
Nowhere Boy
Biopics about a person’s rise to fame are standard, but with Nowhere Boy, we have one that focuses entirely on the subject’s life before fame. The focus is on John Lennon’s (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) adolescent years while being raised by his aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas), as well as that they also show John first meeting Paul (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) and George (Sam Bell). They do a good job subtly showing how John’s group, called The Quarrymen at the time, first started laying the seeds for changing the entire musical landscape. When jazz and rock and roll were king, this new group was doing something entirely different in terms of tone and melody. Another aspect focused on is the contrasting personalities of the strict, but rightfully concerned Mimi and John’s birth mother, the far more accessible and fun-loving Julia (Anne-Marie Duff), who was the person to first convinced John to play the guitar. While Taylor-Johnson is good in the lead, Thomas and Duff’s performances are the real standouts for me, as they fight over who is responsible for John. Later, John shows anger in feeling Julia had betrayed him by giving Mimi custody when he was five. It’s a far less well-known aspect of the Beatle’s early life, and I love that they made a film about it. (John Tillyard)
Get On Up
For many movie-watchers, biopics can often feel like a bit of a slog. They often struggle with the feeling of following a familiar, well-trodden model. Get on Up works hard to buck that trend. The story of James Brown is told in such a way that honors the man himself: bombastic and interesting. Much of the movie is presented out of order, with consistent time jumps through the story. And while the actual subject material follows a lot of that same molding of other biopics, the life of the man was so inherently interesting that it keeps you invested all throughout. But the real reason why this movie is on this list is because of the performances. Chadwick Boseman easily could have been nominated for this performance. He is absolutely electric as Brown, beautifully capturing the complex man. Nelsan Ellis, who plays Bobby Byrd, also gives a pretty incredible performance. While the movie is about Brown, the heart of the movie is Byrd. It’s through his eyes that we get the greatest understanding of who Brown was as a man, a performer, and a friend. It’s an incredibly complex relationship between two actors who were sadly taken too soon. I don’t often hear people talk about Get on Up, and I would love to change that. (Nashua Doll)
Selena
Selena tells the life and career of the “Queen of Tejano Music”, Selena Quintanilla Pérez, following her rise to stardom and her untimely death at the age of 23. The film starts with what happened to be Selena’s sold-out show at Houston Astrodome, and before having a chance to hear a note, we get transformed back in time to where Selena and the rest of the Quintanilla clan got their start. Starring Jennifer Lopez in her breakout role as the titular character, you might think you’re watching the real Selena on the screen. Lopez is the definition of a star, bringing this larger-than-life persona onto the big screen without being over the top or mocking the late Tejano singer. With only with a few years in the music world, Lopez had some big shoes to fill, and she did an amazing job recreating and celebrating Selena’s life. Edward James Olmos’ performance as Selena’s tough-as-nails father and manager, Abraham, was sensational, and watching the chemistry between Olmos and Lopez as father and daughter was refreshing and believable. Along with the memorable soundtrack and favorite line to quote, “anything for Selenas,” Selena gave us enough, without giving too much. It’s also disappointing because we never got to see what kind of life the Tejano star could’ve had. Selena was a favorite in my household, along with its soundtrack. Even though Selena is no longer with us, her star shines on. She’s never forgotten. This film will always be remembered. (Chantal Ashford)
8 Mile
Everybody reading this BEC follow along and read with me. There aren’t too many growing up-type films that can produce one of the best soundtracks, and also a restaurant based on a scene of nervous vomiting. However, the 2002 hit, 8 Mile, brought to the world by none other than Eminem, did just that. Set in 1995, loosely utilizing elements of Eminem’s life, 8 Mile chronicles the story of Jimmy ‘B Rabbit’ Smith, played by Eminem himself, as he and his group of questionable-decision-making friends, which includes the ever-supportive Future (Mekhi Phifer), try to make it big in the rap world of Detroit. Complicating things along the journey are a slew of speed bumps, ranging from a rough home life, backstabbing (and leg shooting), to stage fright at all his major rap battles. Eventually Rabbit questions if the circumstances are holding him back, or if it’s really his own choices. All of this culminates in one of the best rap battles between Rabbit and Anthony Mackie’s Papa Doc. If you love rap music or just love music, period, it’s hard to believe you wouldn’t enjoy this to the max. Not to mention this produced one of the biggest hits of Eminem’s career in “Lose Yourself”. I’m pretty sure if a poll was taken, 99% of people would say that song is a must have on their workout playlist, and the other 1% are just lying. (Matt Lawson)
Greetings from Tim Buckley
Similar to Spencer, Greetings from Tim Buckley wisely focuses on a single event rather than trying to cram an entire life story into two hours, and it still illustrates the wider picture. Jeff Buckley always struggled with an identity crisis, as he resented the inevitable comparisons to his absent father, so what better way to express that than telling the story of his performance at a concert celebrating his father’s legacy? Penn Badgley perfectly encapsulates Jeff’s simultaneously manic and unaffected charm with his angst and playful charisma somehow existing in harmony. It doesn’t hurt that Badgley has a great voice and manages to come as close as possible to matching Jeff’s vocal elasticity. The attitude and the vocals are on full display in one of the best scenes as Jeff flirtatiously riffs on several musical genres while shopping at a record store. Buckley is a criminally underrated musical icon lost far too soon, and Greetings from Tim Buckley is a great introduction for the uninitiated or a great showcase for fans of Jeff or Tim. A full Jeff Buckley biopic always seems to be trapped in development hell, but maybe that’s for the best since this movie excels in its focused storytelling. Anyone unfamiliar with Jeff should watch this then dive into Grace, which I regard as the greatest album ever made. (Jason Mack)
Also See: ‘Round Midnight, What’s Love Got to Do With It, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Ray, Bound for Glory, Judy, I’m Not There, Bohemian Rhapsody