Hello there, and welcome to Thursday Movie Picks, a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves where you share three movies to fit the theme of the week each Thursday.
It's music biopics time. This should be easy for me, I love music, and there's not a single day that goes by without I me not listening to some music. Biographies, on the other hand, are not my cup of tea, so the two things are not much of a great combo to me. However, I still managed to pick three films, two of which aren't exactly biopics. Anyway, here's my picks:
Almost Famous (2000)
This wonderful coming-of-age tale sees young William Miller writing about Stillwater, an up and coming rock band, as he accompanies them on their concert tour. Mostly like a writer biography, this is one of the finest films about music ever made, and reports director Cameron Crowe's experience as a Rolling Stone reporter when he first toured with The Allman Brothers Band. This is also the only Cameron Crowe's film I loved.
Frank (2014)
Young wanna-be musician Jon joins an eccentric pop band led by a mysterious and enigmatic man, Frank. Okay, this one's fictional too and not really a music biopic, but the story is inspired by Frank Sidebottom, an English musician from the late 1970's and early 1980's, the film is weirdly beautiful and it features a spectacular performance from Michael Fassbender.
Ray (2004)
The story of legendary rhythm and blues singer Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s, is a moving and beautifully told biography, intensely portrayed by a brilliant Jamie Foxx. Well, at least this one stays true to the topic ;)
I've seen all three of these. I was really disappointed in Frank because I had hyped it up so much in my head, but it wasn't bad. Almost Famous is great. Ray I only saw in theaters, but I remember being very moved by it.
ReplyDeleteI understand why many did not love Frank and were disappointed by it.
DeleteWell, Almost Famous doesn't quite work, though it does in a way. It is a brilliant film. I adore every minute of it. I so want to see Frank. I just haven't gotten to it. And Ray is just something that doesn't interest me. I like maybe two Ray Charles songs and those not even that much. I like what you did here. I am not a huge fan of biopics myself. The ones I listed on my picks are pretty much it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I bent the rules a bit. But thanks to Thursday Movie Picks I remembered about music biopics I saw and forgot about, like Jersey Boys.
DeleteFrank is a great choice! I first cut it off my list since it's only semi-biographic but thanks to you it's on the list again :)
ReplyDeleteYay!
DeleteBending the rules, eh? I like. Almost Famous and Ray are fantastic. Haven't seen Frank, but it's been on my Netflix list for months. Need to go ahead and pull the trigger on that.
ReplyDeleteWhat can I tell ya? Rules are made to be broken. I hope you'll like Frank, if you ever watch it.
DeleteI love the fact that you went with Almost Famous. I thoroughly enjoyed that movie.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's fantastic.
DeleteAlmost famous is really enjoyable and I think it is quite a good film. I haven't seen Frank but love Ray and find the music and the drama excellent. Jamie Foxx really delved deep into his role
ReplyDeleteFoxx really owned the character, and made me love the film even more!
DeleteI suppose I can't really blame you for bending the rules for Almost Famous - since it's so great - and Frank - since Fassbender and Gyllenhaal are so dynamite in it. I am not a huge fan of Ray, though.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least Ray is an actual biopic.
DeleteI think I missed the party boat on Almost Famous - so many people loved this at school and later but I just never really clicked with it but I can see and understand the appeal. Frank is amazing. It has the airs of being an eccentric comedy drama but it is actually quite a tragic story.
ReplyDelete