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What are the great rock n’ roll movies?
Fellow blogger Ron Rollins had some interesting rock n’ roll debates on his blog last week, and I’d like to join the fray today based on this NPR interview about rock n roll movies. One of the commentators is Murray Horwitz from Dayton.
Here’s a rundown of some of my favorites, in no particular order, except for the very top.
A Hard Day’s Night: Any rock list of mine HAS to start with this movie, which I rank right up there with Citizen Kane and Vertigo. You heard me.
Woodstock: Hand down, the best concert film of all time. It has so many great moments, but my favorite is Santana’s set, with all the split screen action.
The Commitments: This is the Singin’ in the Rain of rock movies in that this one can brighten even my darkest mood with great soul music and terrific speeches like “The Irish are the blacks of Europe. And Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. And the Northside Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin. So say it once, say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud. (Insert stunned expressions here)”
That Thing You Do!: It comes across as sort of a Commitments-lite, but it’s almost as much fun with its look at a one-hit oneder band. And for better or worse, that title song will drill itself into your head for weeks.
The Girl Can’t Help It: My favorite of the 50s rock musicals, this is what the Beatles were watching when they came up with “Birthday” off of the White Album.
This is Spinal Tap: Certainly the funniest of all rock movies. Everyone quotes the “this goes to 11” line, but my favorite scene is Michael McKean’s apoplectic reaction to the miniature Stonehenge set.
Almost Famous: No one uses music in movies better than Cameron Crowe, but his best film is this one where the attraction is not so much the music itself but his terrific story of growing up around rock music. And with all due respect to Marcia Gay Harden, Kate Hudson should have won the Oscar for her turn as Penny Lane.
Yellow Submarine: Yes, it’s the Beatles again, but this has to go here because this is the first movie of any sort I can clearly remember seeing in a theater.
And a couple I consider overrated: I greet Elvis’ Jailhouse Rock not with a swivel of the hips but a shrug of the shoulders. Except for the musical numbers, the film is a fizzle. And many people fall all over themselves praising Sid and Nancy, just like Sid Vicious routinely fell over himself, but except for great performances by Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb, there’s no there there in the movie.
So what are some of your favorite rock movies?
Permalink | Comments (13) | Categories: Lists
Comments
By RoadRager
March 27, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
Definitely can’t leave out ‘Spinal Tap’ and ‘Decline of Western Civilization’ but no one remembered “Sid & Nancy”… for crying out loud MAN! And lets not forget “Song Remains The Same” although some of you youngsters may not remember it. The Dude with the sword (or what ever it was) coupled with the proper level of hallucinogen… DUDE!I just blew my own mind!… Don’t hate me but there was the painful-to-watch-now ‘Phantom of the Park…By Brother Phil
March 21, 2007 10:08 PM | Link to this
Mine would definetly be: 1: Help 2: A Hard Day’s Night 3: The Commitments (your influence) Woodstock is great (my generation) Altamont is notable, but flawed due to the cultural circumstances. Far superior is The Last Waltz.By Mister G
March 20, 2007 10:59 PM | Link to this
I’m stunned no one mentioned “Rock and Roll High School” or, for that matter, “The Great Rock & Roll Swindle” or “D.O.A.” Others of note: “Quadrophenia,” “Streets of Fire,” and “Altamont.”By chris
March 20, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
detroit rock city Kiss rulesBy Sir Critic
March 20, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this
Actually, SRCPutt, I didn’t “forget” anything. I love “Last Waltz,” but I love “Woodstock” more, and I thought that was sufficient representation of (mostly) concert films. And besides, I didn’t leave Marty out completely - he was one of the editors and second unit directors on “Woodstock,” along with a Thelma Schoonmaker.By SRCputt
March 20, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this
I find it hilarious Eric forgot a film by his favorite director (“The Last Waltz”). I really enjoyed Michael Winterbottom’s “24 Hour Party People” with its look at how punk rock in Manchester morphed into dance music. And speaking of punk rock, Julien Temple’s “The Filth and the Fury” is a great explanation of the bizarre phenomenon that was The Sex Pistols.By Dave B.
March 20, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this
Almost Famous, Footloose!By Billy Zabka
March 20, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this
School of Rock, The Last Waltz, Spinal TapBy derwood
March 20, 2007 5:56 AM | Link to this
Hit post too soon.. Forgot.. The Wall.. Nothing like watching Bob Geldof destroy a hotel room to Pink Floyd :)By derwood
March 20, 2007 5:52 AM | Link to this
Spinal Tap, and The Decline of Western Civilization parts 1, 2, and 3By Deb Gaskill
March 19, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this
Good choices, all. I have to say that Hard Day’s Night was one of the first movies I saw in my father’s theater in Jackson Ohio. Does that tell how old I am????By Chris
March 19, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
“This Is Spinal Tap” and “2000 Motels (Frank Zappa)”By kimberrry
March 19, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this
“The Last Waltz” by Martin Scorcese.