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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
jax2 OP
3,031 posts
 
My brother in all things musical, Richard! I knew where there was music, you'd come a callin'! How's the power tools and football working for you? Pop open a Pabst for me, my friend.

Once - I really loved that film, but Afranta did mention it already. It bears repeating as it's wonderful. Great soundtrack to boot (now don't anyone latch onto that statement and start giving me soundtracks again or I'm going to have Richard come by with his impact driver). NO soundtracks please. Richard, I just know you're going to come up with something brilliant that I've missed though.

Here's one more:

The Lisbon Story (Wim Wenders beautiful quiet film - one of the few I actually own)

kjweisner's avatar
kjweisner
293 posts
 
Great movies? Well, certainly entertaining:
The Legend of 1900
Mr. Holland's Opus
School of Rock (Jack Black)
The Country Bears (don't laugh--lots of great cameos and performances)
The Rocker
Rockstar
calbrs03
184 posts
 
Does Help clear the bar? I also want to add Trainspotting, but I can't say that music is a theme within the movie; music does, however, move the narrative thematically. Your call...
jazzcourier
205 posts
 
"New York,New York" and the original..."The man i love" with Ida Lupino.To keep this thread legit i think that music has to be the axis of the story.So movies with music that don't fuel the plot are well meaning but may be the sound of one hand clapping.
chetatkins
81 posts
 
The cotton club -great album....crazy-hank garland story.Ray...american grafitti-another great album...especially the song the stroll WOW...
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