Throughout the history of film, music and compositions have been an integral part of what makes movies so special. The literal tone of a piece can make or break a scene, changing the audience’s point of view instantly. As a lifelong movie lover, I have always loved picking apart a soundtrack to discover what it adds to a film. But, as I've gotten older I've realized that some movies take that idea to a whole other level. Music becomes a kind of protagonist (or sometimes antagonist) that you wouldn’t expect. So, now, let’s talk movies about music!
I became aware of this “genre” at a pretty young age when I discovered my love of theater and musicals. Yes, I was definitely a theater kid in grade school and yes, I do still belt the occasional show tune in my car. I would watch movie musicals at least once a week. Whether it was Hairspray, Dreamgirls or even High School Musical, I would be bopping to the top night and day. But, the type of movie I'm talking about isn’t actually a musical, which I realize is pretty confusing considering those are the prime examples of movies with prominent music. But, when my dad showed me the 1995 film That Thing You Do, a movie focused on a 1960's Beatles-esque band trying to make it in the record industry, I realized what this subset of movies actually entails.
This genre usually consists of a band or artist that is either established or trying to be in the music industry. There’s typically some type of manager that’s either great or gets in the way, and a main character that sort of resembles the audience’s point of view. For example, in That Thing You Do, “Shades” played by Tom Everett Scott (who’s also featured in a more modern example, La La Land) gives the audience a character to relate to and even root for. Tom Hanks serves as the residential manager character who steers the band into many different directions.
Other examples that may or may not stick to this criteria include Almost Famous, The Runaways, and even The Blues Brothers. There are also many music biopics that fall under this category, such as The Doors, A Complete Unknown, and Selena.
I want to give Almost Famous its credit, as it's pretty much the main reason why I wanted to delve deep into this subgenre. It is the ultimate movie about music and truly represents the idea of music as its own character. Throughout the movie, William Miller, the teen protagonist who is posing as an adult rock journalist, is driven by his love of rock and roll. Music brings him to Stillwater, the up-and-coming band he ends up touring with to write a story about the rockers for Rolling Stone magazine. Without music’s strong presence, these characters would have never been pulled towards each other.
Overall, this genre makes me love music even more than I thought I could. Seeing other stories strung together through the power of music is such a cool experience. If you are ever bored and want to ignite some creative sparks, turn on one of these classics and enjoy a plethora of complex characters, some beautiful storytelling, and a whole lot of music.
“If you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends” - Penny Lane, Almost Famous (2000)
Hi! My name is Tara and I’m a Mass Communications major with a minor in Media Arts! On Wednesdays from 8-9pm I go by DJ T and host the radio show “Midnight Snacks” here on WUSC :)