Great films where music is a central theme.

Thought of a few more...

Narrative:

Tous Les Matins Du Monde
The Doors

Documentaries:

Shine a Light
This is Going to Get Loud

Al - I have that soundtrack, but never did see the film. I'm going to have to put in on my queue!

Zman - Oh Brother, why didn't I remember that one!? Great call. Another one in a similar genre of music:

Songcatcher

I confess, I don't get Harry Met Sally though - you mean the one set in Seattle, or is there another one?

Viridian - Loved that film (especially Jack Black and that other guy behind the counter)! I love all of Nick Hornby's books actually. About a Boy, is also quite good , though music has only a tiny roll in it.

Shardone - it's going on my queue. I don't think I've seen it.

Here's two more:

Shine
Amadeus

This is going to do my waning Netflix queue some good I can tell.

PS The Bruce Weber film on Chet Baker should have been, "Lets Get Lost" = Brain fart on my part.

Ah, now great soundtracks are the subject for a whole other thread and that's not what I was getting at. Sorry if that wasn't clear. What I'm looking for are either narative films (dramas) where music is a central theme of the narative, or plays a central roll in the actual story itself. Or documentary films about music/musicmakers.

So films like When Harry Met Sally, and the Vin Diesel film, might have a great soundtrack, but it is not what I'm asking for here because music does not have any substantial part of the story (actually I haven't seen the Vin Diesel film, but going on a hunch). Whereas a film like, The Commitments, is a story around the theme of music making, and your other great suggestion, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, has the central characters playing in a band, and where that genre of music has a big roll throughout that film.

I think there's a "Great Soundtracks" thread somewhere in the archives where those suggestions would be appropriate. Again, sorry If my OP was not clear.

With me it is no contest. Schindler's list.

Huh?!?! Did you mean to say, The Pianist? I cannot recall music playing a roll in Schindler's List but maybe it's been too long since I've seen it.

Then there's, The Piano.

Nebin and Erndog, Richard is on his way to your homes with his impact driver and rotohammer. He won't be doing any home repair either.

OK, now everyone repeat after me: This is NOT a soundtrack thread!

There are numerous soundtracks thread out there and this is NOT one of them. Please, no more soundtracks. Music as actual story content. Unless James Spader is actually playing a drum kit in Storyville (or if you are referring to the Storyville that is about the first legal red light district in America), or Russel Crowe is conducting a symphony of Gladiators, those films are not what I'm after.

OK, now I AM sounding like a broken record. What do I need to do to make it any more clear?

Again, hoping not to become a broken record and wish I could explain it somewhat better, but I'm not interested in films with great soundtracks, or where the story happens to be driven along with music with a very specific theme like Pulp Fiction (that would NOT be what I'm after). It's not at all that the film has a great soundtrack, or a director that has amazing musical tastes...it's not about Hans Zimmer scores or the strong support of 70's music to create a period piece. None of that. You good people get an "F"....OK, you get a "E" for contributing and making an effort, but really it's not what I'm after. Music must have a place in the actual story of the film, that is beyond someone turning on the radio, or Jack Nicholson having McIntosh gear in As Good as it Gets. Maybe someone plays in a band, or there is an orchestra or an instrument that has a central roll (and, "...one time at band camp..." would not qualify here). And yes, I am looking for films you'd actually recommend that others see, not something mediocre. Greatness does not need to be the qualifying descriptor though. So based on my premise, Five Easy Pieces, Goodfellas and Fast Times at Ridgemont High are DQ'd and outta here. Music is not part of any of those stories (at least not that I remember). Almost Famous, absolutely has music as a central theme to the story. Brilliant!

Here are just a few more to keep this on the right track:

Naratives

Good Morning Vietnam
Topsy Turvy
Flawless (this is a real sleeper, and a great movie in my book - Deniro and Phillip Seymore Hoffman)

Documentaries

Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037

OK, now don't make me get the steel ruler out, or start sending folks to the principal's office. Lets get this thread on track boys and girls!

Alright, now we're talking! Between my two posts - all great suggestions!! That's exactly what I meant! Thank you!

Great calls, all, Bikecommuter! Right on. I meant to post Treme but I got to busy setting the thread on course. HBO is putting out some very fine films and series, for sure. Not sure I get the Close Encounters connection though.

Sid & Nancy
Black Swan

My brother in all things musical, Richard! I knew where there was music, you'd come a callin'! How's the power tools and football working for you? Pop open a Pabst for me, my friend.

Once - I really loved that film, but Afranta did mention it already. It bears repeating as it's wonderful. Great soundtrack to boot (now don't anyone latch onto that statement and start giving me soundtracks again or I'm going to have Richard come by with his impact driver). NO soundtracks please. Richard, I just know you're going to come up with something brilliant that I've missed though.

Here's one more:

The Lisbon Story (Wim Wenders beautiful quiet film - one of the few I actually own)

Walter - it's been way too long since I've seen Five Easy Pieces but I'll take your word and offer my apologies for that one.

"Clyde", Richard? You makin' this up? I haven't heard of it and couldn't find what you are talkin' 'bout on IMDB. You're chuggin' down those Mickey's Big Mouth's a bit quickly. Shark Week will do that. Did you get the addresses for Erndog and Nebin yet. When you're done with them head on over to ChetAtkins place - oh, wait Cotton Club neutralizes his mention of Full Metal Jacket. I guess we'll hold off there. Though he did put some stress on the soundtrack...yeah, get the address and I'll mull that one over.

NO SOUNDTRACKS!!!!!! I am not interested in great soundtracks here. Movies that are compelling enough for you to recommend that include music as part of the actual story content of the movie. I don't care about the soundtrack - it could suck, or it could have none at all.

Ummm... that's no impact driver big boy.

As long as you know how to use it when you get to their homes. I hope you're keeping a list now.

Yeah, I can understand how one might confuse Clyde with Cyrus. The two are so similar. Yeah, Cyrus was a pretty amusing film and yes, it qualifies in my thread, which is NOT ABOUT &(*$((*((#*&%)&)(*)#&%#$* SOUNDTRACKS! Oh man, I think I busted a vein in my neck.

Crazy Heart

Dude, you'll have to forth, 'Once' - great movie!

Documentary:

Young at Heart

I'm trying my best here to keep the thread on track, but I guess my command of the English language is not good enough. I'll continue to post'em as I think of'em. Hopefully we'll get more material that is to the point of the thread and fewer folks posting films that simply have great soundtracks (not at all what I was after here - so Dogfight, Thin Red Line, Apocalypse Now, The Mission, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Journey into Amazing Caves and Local Hero have no place in this thread, though all may have compelling musical scores or soundtracks there is no content to their stories that has anything to do with music as part of the central story of the film). The Big Chill...I don't think so, Bill. I think someone else mentioned that. The only connection to music in the film is that dishwashing scene - but I don't think that really puts music as part of the actual story - great soundtrack for sure, and music makes that film in many ways, but it is not part of the story, it simply enhances it and sets the period firmly. Music as content of the actual plot/story is mandatory, and what this thread is about. It can't be just incidental, such as a scene in the movie where a band plays a song, or someone wears headphones and talks about their favorite music. No. Music must have some roll in the actual story....please! The thread Nazi has spoken.

Naratives:

Departures (wonderful!)

Documentary:

Anvil: The Story of Anvil

Mapman - yep, you got it. Exactly. Both those films are exactly what I'm after. Where the subject or some key aspect of the plot has something to do with music. It does not have to be the entire story, though that's fine too, but some aspect of it must include music as a key element.

Tubegroover, I think there's plenty of films out there that still have not been mentioned. No need to go to the mediocre selections (though I've never seen any of those you posted I'm taking that as your inference).

Certainly you could go to a movie guide and look up examples. I guess I was interested in films folks had seen and might recommend to others here, since we're all a bunch of music lovers here. This applies to everything I've mentioned thus far - I'd recommend any one of them, some more than others, but not a dud in the bunch, IMHO.

No one mentioned the score for Psycho because it does not fit the criteria I've set forth and repeated ad nauseum for the thread. This is not a thread about scores or soundtracks. There is absolutely NOTHING in the plot or story of Psycho that relates to music. Zero. Zilch. Nada. This parrot is bleeding deeemised! Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Nor do Lost in Translation nor Amelie have music as part of their stories that I recall. Nor does Mike's Murder. You all need to retake the class or come after school for a makeup session. Does anyone actually read the thread before posting? There's going to be a surprise quiz at some point here.

OK, I'll have to take some responsibility for the errant ways of my pupils here. Obviously I've somehow given the some misleading guidance from the start, and neglected to consider that folks tend to read three words and think they understood everything there was to understand about a post on the Internet. In retrospect I should have called the thread "Movies about Music", but I didn't really want to eliminate films where music was a plot element, yet was not necessarily the central theme. So I titled the thread what I did, and tried to describe it as best I could. I hope folks realize my "wrath" is all tongue-in-cheek and, being a film lover, as well as a music lover, I always love hearing about new films I may not have seen or aspects of films I didn't know about. I will continue to endeavor to keep the thread on track because there ARE plenty of threads on soundtracks and scores already and I did NOT want this to be another one of those. I will continue to edit with a sense of humor - I hope no one takes it personally, and I hope Richard's visits to various members who violated my dictate here... well, I hope those scars heal quickly, and that the women and children of the households did not have to bear witness to those disciplinary actions.

This thread has prompted me to get several of the movies, which I really enjoyed (The Bands Visit for one). - snip

Way cool! That's exactly why I created it - to get some good recommendations from others. This is why I requested please don't just reference generic lists of films with music. I'm really interested in your personal recommendations. Glad you liked, The Bands Visit and Commitments! Both are excellent films.

Nick_sr - Sounds like you have some crossover tastes, I mentioned the wonderful film, Departures already. Though I can only take Von Trier in small doses and all of his stuff very polarizing for myself, I have to say, that first scene in Antichrist is amazing and beautiful. It is not, however, a film with with music as any part of the storyline so not a film that fits here. I'd also warn anyone that that considers that film that it is painfully difficult/disturbing content to watch at times. I personally would not recommend it to anyone, but I can say it will stick with you. In that Dogma school of cinema Von Trier is known for, on a personal recommendation apart from this thread as it has no musical content either, The Celebration, is one of my all-time favorite films. Oh, and I did enjoy Dancer in the Dark, which does belong on this thread as music is a big part of the content - but yes, not for everyone as any of Von Triers films might be described.

Overall, everyone's been adding some great suggestions. My Netflix queue thanks you! Keep'em coming

Richard - I didnt know Von Trier was involved with the Beavis and Butthead film!? You learn something new every day!

Yes Marco, very influential and responsible for the Cornholio as a Christ figure subtext. Glad I could further your film education.

Thanks for the schoolin' on movin' pitchers, Richard. Thanks also for making me blow a fair amount of bubbly water through both nostrils when I read your treatise on Cornholio. The nostrils were in need of a bit of a flush anyway.

Nick_sr - yeah, I mentioned Black Swan a while back. Which leads me to think of one of his earlier films, which has a great soundtrack and no qualifying musical content otherwise, Requiem for a Dream - but since you like dark and disturbing films, I'm sure you're familiar with it. This of course brings to mind a more recent soundtrack by the same guy who did Requiem, Clint Mansell; he also did the haunting soundtrack to, Moon. Again, sadly, no musical content and the film does not belong in this thread, though it is an excellent film with a great performance by Sam Rockwell. Oh, damn, now I'm doing it! You see what you guys made me do?!

On a redeeming note, I just watched Wim Wenders installment, The Soul of a Man, of Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues series. I promptly ordered the soundtrack. Yes, it is entirely musical content, of course. A documentary.

Calm down, Marty, the fine motion picture event Richard referenced is obviously Von Trier's long-awaited sequel to his television production, The Kingdom

For totally moronic humor I much prefer Ren and Stimpy. I think those are directed by Terrence Malick.