Music is my radar: 15 + 1 Favorite Music Films

Making lists is not my thing... I always forget something, regret including something or simply cannot fit my favorite films/songs into one single list.

I will try to do so though, by posting my first “Favorites List”... The theme is Music: not soundtracks (that will be a tricky one), but musical films.

As you will see the list includes also some documentaries, but this is not what this list is about: it's about my favorite films about music, musicians, or simply are filled with music. Let me clarify that apart from a bonus track I have not included any musicals. This is a whole other area that perhaps will fit in another list in the future....

 So, please enjoy, discover and share with me your own favorite musical films!

24 Hour Party People (2002)

This is the (true) story of the rise of "Madchester" (Manchester) scene in the late 70s through the story of Tony Wilson, the reporter of Granada Television and head of Factory records.
If you love Joy Division, New Order, the Happy Mondays, the Buzzcocks or Sex Pistols then seriously, why haven't you watched this yet?
For the rest of you, this is a great film about music, fame, friendship and ... Manchester.

Velvet Goldmine (1998)

One of my absolute favorite films, this is an unofficial biography of the Glamrock era. The characters presented on the film are clearly references to David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and Brian Ferry without being named.
The film features a young Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Ewan McGregor, Christian Bale and Tony Collette. The soundtrack is to die for, with many amazing original tracks and some cool covers.

Control (2007)

Anton Corbijn's film debut, the until then mainly music video documentary director, this film is a profile of the late Ian Curtis, lead singer of Joy Division. An amazing film that touches this delicate matter - Curtis' troubled life and suicide- with the most intimate, sensitive way.
Sam Riley is Ian Curtis.

High Fidelity (2000)

This film is about love, music, top 5 lists, break ups, songs about break ups and lots, lots of vinyl records! Based on the novel by Nick Hornby, High Fidelity is simply the soundtrack of your lifes!

Almost Famous (2000)

In this semi-autobiographical film, Crowe describes the story of when he was a teenage writer for Rolling Stone. In the film William Miller finds himself, while still being in high school, following a rock band on tour. Groupies, drugs and rock and roll, this nostalgic, touching film that gave the newcomer Kate Hudson an Oscar nomination. See if you can spot another newcomer, Zooey Deschanel!

Blues Brothers (1980)

Buddies and regulars at Saturday Night Live, Aykroyd & Belushi, first presented the Blues Brothers band in 1976 at SNL. Later on, the band took a life on its own, with an album and the instant classic 1980 film.
"Everybody needs somebody to love" is the film's most iconic performance.

Dreamgirls (2006)

"And I am telling you, I'm not going"...
I know, I know I said no musicals... But can you blame me? This film's got everything: that 60s feeling, a girl band on the verge of breakup and the amazing Jennifer Hudson!
No wonder she got an Oscar for this film...

Ray (2004)

The biography of Ray Charles, the innovative soul musician that straggled with his demons but overcame all difficulties and became an iconic figure.
The film that gave Jamie Foxx the Academy Award for best actor in 2004.

Purple Rain (1984)

This cult classic, is the tale of a young talented musician who meets Apollonia, an aspiring singer, and finds that talent alone isn't all that he needs...
Prince, at the peak of his singing career, stars in "Purple Rain", a film that although has been considered tacky or even kitsch, is full of great music!

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

One of my all time favorite films, this is the story of a break up and how sometimes, you have to let go of something that you find impossible to live without, in order to actually live.

All that, while listening to The Smiths.

Last Days (2005)

In this 2005 Gus Van Sant film, we witness the last days in the life of a musician whose life is reminiscent of Kurt Cobain's.

Quiet, intimate, a film worth discovering.

Walk the Line (2005)

"Walk the Line" is the biography of Johnny Cash and June Carter. The film focuses on the troubled life of Cash, his strugle with drugs and his love to June that helped him overcome his addictions.

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1973)

This is one of my favorite documentary films. I had the pleasure of watching it years ago during the Athens International Film Festival, back when Apollon cinema was still open..

This amazing musical experience takes us back at the very last concert of David Bowie's alter ego, Ziggy Stardust and makes us part of the glam magic..

Woodstock: 3 Days of peace, love and music (1970)

This documentary is the chronicle of the 1969 music film festival. It is a film that captures the excitement, the feeling and the essence of the festival through the great performances. A full length (3h and 48 min) documentation of the legendary summer of love.

Trainspotting (1996)

"Choose your future. Choose life. I chose not to choose life. I chose something else." Renton narrates at the film that marked my teen years.

Provocative, fresh, raw, with an amazing soundtrack that featured Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Brian Eno, Primal Scream, New Order... and the list goes on and on..

Bonus Track

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

"Give yourself over to absolute pleasure. Swim the warm waters of sins of the flesh - erotic nightmares beyond any measure, and sensual daydreams to treasure forever. Can't you just see it? Don't dream it, be it."

Words cannot describe Rocky Horror Picture Show, you have to see it, so as to understand why fans of the film gather in theatres worldwide and re-enact the whole movie. Give yourself over to the absolute pleasure of Rocky...

Well, there you go! I am pretty sure that I've left lots of things behind, so please, feel free to suggest your own favorites!