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
Marco,

Von Trier is not (for the most part) my cup of tea. OTH, I haven't seen "The Kingdom" (or it's "long awaited sequel"...or Beavis and Butthead, for that matter), so I guess that I should have reserved judgement.

Mea culpa.

Marty
Agree with 24 Hour Party People. Brilliant history of Madchester music scene. Essential.
Also.... FM, released circa 1978. The story of a radio station enjoying rising success due to a phenomenal playlist (many of the best artists on the MCA label from 1975-1978 including Steely Dan)struggling with management who want more advertising and less music. The backdrop of recorded music and live concerts largely make up for the somewhat WKRP-esque schtique. The double LP soundtrack won a Grammy for Best Engineering, and I can attest to the fact that the cuts on it are extremely well done- no 4th generation cassette masters were used here.