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
My favorite is the Robert Rodriguez film Road Racers which has a kick-ass soundtrack all the way through and of course his movie Desperado is a close 2nd place.
Big Night! Two brothers open a Real Italian restaurant, in the 50's in New Jersey, not the Americanized Chef Boy R Dee style. Beautiful Italian singers, Louie Parma and some cool Jazz. Highly recommend movie and soundtrack.
i agree it is hard topic, just naming movies with great soundtracks should not count. also i really do not think movies dealing with a band or artist count because that is obviously music oriented. i agree with crossroads, the ralph macchio 80's flick, i think a movie that might fit would be a clockwork orange considering how the main character was conditioned to be passive. his love of ludwig van, his singing of "singing in the rain", the scene in the record store that leads to a menage a trois just to name a few scenes
Topic isn't sophisticated as mentioned previously and here's my list out of the top of my head quickly appeared:

Rock and experimental music:

2-moon July. It's wierd movie that is partially documentary featuring kool artists such as Anton Fier, Arto Lindsay, Laurie Anderson, John Lurie, David Byrne

Anyone mentioned The Wall by any chance? It does speak for itself...

Song Remains The Same -- no need to comment

Laurie Anderson -- Home of The Brave

Talking Heads -- True Stories; Storytelling Giant.

Frank Zappa -- Uncle Meat

Dead Can Dance documentary film "Towards Within"

The Residents -- Escimo and many other DVDs with their wierd videos(don't show it to kidz!)

Can -- self-title docummentary on DVD featuring various interviews.
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Done with rock music movies and documentaries

Classical:

Shine;
Immortal Beloved;
PIANIST!;
Clockwork Orange INDEED!
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Pop:

2005 version of Producers by Mel Brooks
animated doll show "Meet The Feebles!"
"Born On The Fouth Of July". The music was just SO much a part/integral to the film that I had to mention it.