Movies about Musicians
January 3, 2021 9:15 AM Subscribe
Movies about musicians to watch with my 13 year old after watching Soul.
We recently watched Soul, and agreed that the best parts where when he's a regular physical human playing jazz, talking about playing jazz, etc. We also loved That Thing You Do a while back.
What other good movies (or documentaries) would be fun to watch?
We recently watched Soul, and agreed that the best parts where when he's a regular physical human playing jazz, talking about playing jazz, etc. We also loved That Thing You Do a while back.
What other good movies (or documentaries) would be fun to watch?
The Blue Brothers. Seriously: John Lee Hooker! Cab Calloway! Ray Charles! ARETHA.
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:34 AM on January 3, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:34 AM on January 3, 2021 [6 favorites]
La La Land!
posted by yawper at 9:35 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by yawper at 9:35 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Mr. Holland’s Opus.
posted by Melismata at 9:35 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Melismata at 9:35 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
A movie about 13-year-old musicians, of course!
WE ARE THE BEST
posted by minervous at 9:37 AM on January 3, 2021 [9 favorites]
WE ARE THE BEST
posted by minervous at 9:37 AM on January 3, 2021 [9 favorites]
Also, Whiplash.
posted by yawper at 9:39 AM on January 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by yawper at 9:39 AM on January 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
The Commitments.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:42 AM on January 3, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:42 AM on January 3, 2021 [6 favorites]
New Orleans (hard-to-find 1947 movie with Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Kid Ory)
Chico and Rita (animated, about jazz musicians in 1940s Havana and NYC)
Amadeus
posted by JonJacky at 9:45 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Chico and Rita (animated, about jazz musicians in 1940s Havana and NYC)
Amadeus
posted by JonJacky at 9:45 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
School of Rock. Amazing Grace.
While looking for something else I ran across Muscle Shoals.
How about musicals?
posted by bunderful at 9:45 AM on January 3, 2021 [4 favorites]
While looking for something else I ran across Muscle Shoals.
How about musicals?
posted by bunderful at 9:45 AM on January 3, 2021 [4 favorites]
Blues Brothers. Can’t beat it.
posted by armoir from antproof case at 9:54 AM on January 3, 2021
posted by armoir from antproof case at 9:54 AM on January 3, 2021
Yesterday was good. It’s the one where the struggling musician discovers that nobody has ever heard of the Beatles and he starts playing their songs. My then-12 y o enjoyed it.
posted by Knowyournuts at 10:00 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Knowyournuts at 10:00 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
The TV series Treme. Tons of musicians playing lovely music.
posted by wyzewoman at 10:11 AM on January 3, 2021
posted by wyzewoman at 10:11 AM on January 3, 2021
The TV series Treme. Tons of musicians playing lovely music.
Fabulous series, and WOW, the music! Too many adult concerns for most 13-year-olds, though.
posted by MonkeyToes at 10:23 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Fabulous series, and WOW, the music! Too many adult concerns for most 13-year-olds, though.
posted by MonkeyToes at 10:23 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Searching for Sugar Man?
posted by tardigrade at 10:24 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by tardigrade at 10:24 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
20 Feet from Stardom
posted by nayantara at 10:37 AM on January 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by nayantara at 10:37 AM on January 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
Anvil: The Story of Anvil is a documentary that we loved as a family. Also seconding Searching for Sugar Man. Both very life-affirming movies, centered in music.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:50 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:50 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
This is a series, not a one-off doc, but check out song exploder on netflix.
posted by umbú at 11:22 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by umbú at 11:22 AM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Bird, What We Do is Secret, Danielson: A Family Movie, Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 11:56 AM on January 3, 2021
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 11:56 AM on January 3, 2021
Krush Groove. It’s a fictionalized account of how Russell Simmons founded Def Jam Records. The trailer actually undersells it. Not mentioned are LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, New Edition, and the first on screen appearance of Chris Rock.
posted by chrisulonic at 12:19 PM on January 3, 2021
posted by chrisulonic at 12:19 PM on January 3, 2021
The "music is overwhelmingly beautiful" thing is done really well in History of Future Folk. It's one of my favourites!
Flight of the Conchords has songs every episode! awkward NZ humour!
The music in Steven Universe is usually quite nice - but not a lot of human-ing happening there.
Chico and Rita is also beautiful, but... lots of sex and drugs and a bit of murder and also period-accurate racism.
The Get Down is also a good music-based show (and maybe a tiny bit of nudity? but definitely in 70s NYC so not too kid friendly)
posted by Acari at 12:34 PM on January 3, 2021
Flight of the Conchords has songs every episode! awkward NZ humour!
The music in Steven Universe is usually quite nice - but not a lot of human-ing happening there.
Chico and Rita is also beautiful, but... lots of sex and drugs and a bit of murder and also period-accurate racism.
The Get Down is also a good music-based show (and maybe a tiny bit of nudity? but definitely in 70s NYC so not too kid friendly)
posted by Acari at 12:34 PM on January 3, 2021
Round Midnight, 1986 movie starring Dexter Gordon, with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and other musicians. Wonderful music, but like any realistic depiction of the jazz world, probably too adult for a 13 year old. This one is based on the life of Bud Powell, so it is especially tragic.
posted by JonJacky at 1:29 PM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by JonJacky at 1:29 PM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Standing In The Shadows Of Motown, a documentary about the Funk Brothers, featuring a lot of great artists talking about (and singing) the songs the Funk Brothers made famous.
posted by pdb at 2:30 PM on January 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by pdb at 2:30 PM on January 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
A Hard Day’s Night
I haven’t seen Woodstock (in its entirety) or The Last Waltz, but they might be good choices here
Walk Hard has nudity and adult themes, but is also the best biopic ever.
Maybe dig up the Beatles Anthology shows, if they’re available?
posted by Huffy Puffy at 3:04 PM on January 3, 2021
I haven’t seen Woodstock (in its entirety) or The Last Waltz, but they might be good choices here
Walk Hard has nudity and adult themes, but is also the best biopic ever.
Maybe dig up the Beatles Anthology shows, if they’re available?
posted by Huffy Puffy at 3:04 PM on January 3, 2021
re-iteratin':
'Whiplash' has excellent music and performances, but music teachers like to point out that the antagonist-teacher acting out is not reflective of contemporary professional music pedagogy.
'Amadeus' is my favourite classical music immersed-in-performance film. The protagonist is a weirdo, but that's part of the concept. Heavy ending.
'Spinal Tap' is the most accurate documentary of the classic rock era ever made, but it's honesty would make for some awkward moments watching with a 13 year old... if I saw it when I was 13, I would've devoured it without hesitation, YMMV.
posted by ovvl at 4:32 PM on January 3, 2021
'Whiplash' has excellent music and performances, but music teachers like to point out that the antagonist-teacher acting out is not reflective of contemporary professional music pedagogy.
'Amadeus' is my favourite classical music immersed-in-performance film. The protagonist is a weirdo, but that's part of the concept. Heavy ending.
'Spinal Tap' is the most accurate documentary of the classic rock era ever made, but it's honesty would make for some awkward moments watching with a 13 year old... if I saw it when I was 13, I would've devoured it without hesitation, YMMV.
posted by ovvl at 4:32 PM on January 3, 2021
It has been a while since I've seen them, so my memories aren't fresh, but given they were created in the 1950s, I'm sure they're tame enough for a 13-year-old, so my suggestions are bio-pics about Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller.
posted by sardonyx at 5:32 PM on January 3, 2021
posted by sardonyx at 5:32 PM on January 3, 2021
Across the Universe is a fictional narrative shaped around the beatles repertoire. at least two major characters are musicians. bono does a cameo as a ken kesey figure. some areas of conflict: antiwar protests, the draft, immigration, relationships...bono does a cameo as a ken kesey figure. dana fuchs breaks out and she. is. amazing. story, not documentary.
posted by j_curiouser at 9:26 PM on January 3, 2021
posted by j_curiouser at 9:26 PM on January 3, 2021
my 13yo girl *loved* it. first few viewings w parental guidance.
posted by j_curiouser at 9:29 PM on January 3, 2021
posted by j_curiouser at 9:29 PM on January 3, 2021
Response by poster: Thanks for all the answers!
FWIW, we bounced off Spinal Tap after about 15 minutes. And we watched and loved the Hamilton Song Exploder episode.
posted by signal at 4:42 AM on January 4, 2021
FWIW, we bounced off Spinal Tap after about 15 minutes. And we watched and loved the Hamilton Song Exploder episode.
posted by signal at 4:42 AM on January 4, 2021
Rocketman -- fits requirements for a lot of music, music being performed on stage, talking about writing music, and about a musician
Jersey Boys
Green Book
Drumline
I Saw the Light -- about Hank Williams
Florence Foster Jenkins -- about that off-key singer
Cadillac Records
posted by dlwr300 at 8:32 AM on January 4, 2021
Jersey Boys
Green Book
Drumline
I Saw the Light -- about Hank Williams
Florence Foster Jenkins -- about that off-key singer
Cadillac Records
posted by dlwr300 at 8:32 AM on January 4, 2021
The Wrecking Crew is a great doc about session musicians working in LA in the 60s
I enjoyed this doc about Steely Dan and the making of Aja (learned about 'the Purdie Shuffle'!). (Obviously there's numerous youtubes of this nature, a la Behind the Music / Making of Classic Albums, etc.)
fyi there's a new season of Song Exploder out on Netflix, with Trent Reznor, Dua Lipa, others.
posted by Bron at 9:22 AM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
I enjoyed this doc about Steely Dan and the making of Aja (learned about 'the Purdie Shuffle'!). (Obviously there's numerous youtubes of this nature, a la Behind the Music / Making of Classic Albums, etc.)
fyi there's a new season of Song Exploder out on Netflix, with Trent Reznor, Dua Lipa, others.
posted by Bron at 9:22 AM on January 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
There's a great documentary called "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" that I can't recommend highly enough.
posted by Ipsifendus at 6:33 AM on January 6, 2021
posted by Ipsifendus at 6:33 AM on January 6, 2021
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Once
The History of Future Folk
Begin Again
Spinal Tap
A Mighty Wind
posted by jonathanhughes at 9:25 AM on January 3, 2021 [2 favorites]