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Great films where music is a central theme.

I'm a film lover for as long as I can remember. There's nothing like a film that combines my passion for music and film. I'm going to leave out concert films from this, as there are plenty of threads on that. Lets stick to other films - dramas or documentaries - that use music as a central theme, or have it as a key element in the narrative. Here are a few of my own favorites to get the ball rolling.

As it is in Heaven
The Bands Visit
Schultze Gets the Blues
Troubled Water (the Erik Poppe film)
Sweet and Lowdown
Bird
'Round Midnight
I'm Not Here

Documentaries:

Throw Down Your Heart
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Lets Get Close (Bruce Weber)
Buena Vista Social Club
Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back
Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

So it's really could be split into two threads; Narative films and Documentaries. But lets try leaving it open to both, just no concert films. What are some of your favorites?
jax2
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
The Big Chill
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,232 posts
 
Pulp Fiction. Kill Bill.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,232 posts
 
Journey into Amazing Caves (IMAX).
kirkus
502 posts
 
"Un Cour en Hiver" fits the bill and uses a wonderful performance of Ravel's string quartet . . . but what a depressing movie!

I also think "Super Fly" needs to be mentioned, as one of the most significant aspects of the film is how Curtis Mayfield's soundtrack conflicts with the plot glamorization of Priest's life, and becomes the main point of the story.
jax2 OP
3,031 posts
 
I'm trying my best here to keep the thread on track, but I guess my command of the English language is not good enough. I'll continue to post'em as I think of'em. Hopefully we'll get more material that is to the point of the thread and fewer folks posting films that simply have great soundtracks (not at all what I was after here - so Dogfight, Thin Red Line, Apocalypse Now, The Mission, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Journey into Amazing Caves and Local Hero have no place in this thread, though all may have compelling musical scores or soundtracks there is no content to their stories that has anything to do with music as part of the central story of the film). The Big Chill...I don't think so, Bill. I think someone else mentioned that. The only connection to music in the film is that dishwashing scene - but I don't think that really puts music as part of the actual story - great soundtrack for sure, and music makes that film in many ways, but it is not part of the story, it simply enhances it and sets the period firmly. Music as content of the actual plot/story is mandatory, and what this thread is about. It can't be just incidental, such as a scene in the movie where a band plays a song, or someone wears headphones and talks about their favorite music. No. Music must have some roll in the actual story....please! The thread Nazi has spoken.

Naratives:

Departures (wonderful!)

Documentary:

Anvil: The Story of Anvil

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