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

Showing 7 responses by mapman

OK. Don't watch those or listen to the music if you do then.

A movie guide would be a good source of info for movies with a pure music theme.

Would "Walk the Line" qualify?

Mr Holland's Opus comes to mind. HAven't seen it in a while but I recall a strong central music theme that reached me.

I think "A HArd Day's Night" qualifies. This is a good one to watch with closed captioning on to really be able to understand the bantering humor behind those heavy Brit accents.
Blatantly obvious but the sound of Music has to be on the list. Also "The Music Man" I suppose.
Any universities offering classes on the social and cultural impacts of "Beavis and Butthead" yet, I wonder?

I kinda miss those guys!