Summer Binge Watch — Music Biopics

On Friday "Straight Outta Compton" debuts. It's a biopic on NWA and I think it could be one of the big hits of summer. In preparation for that, I thought it would be fun to chronicle some other music biopics. There are many classics to choose from, so I'm just gonna offer five I liked from the last 15 years (since 2000).

8 Mile (2002)
About: This might feel like a cheat since it's not completely a biopic. It's not exactly a true story. But given the setting and the story, and the fact Eminem has said it closely mirrors his story, it's kind of like a biopic. First off, I'll say you don't expect the director of "L.A. Confidential" or "Wonder Boys" to be making this movie. But Curtis Hanson  did. This is not an incredible film. The performances aren't great, either. Sometimes it's a little hard to watch. So why is it on this list? Well, it feels like a good compliment to "Straight Outta Compton." And, two, the best thing about it was Eminem's original song, which won an Academy Award. It's probably his best song, and it makes the movie better.
Rating: R for strong language, sexuality, some violence and drug use. Enter with caution.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Ray (2004)
About: This is a near perfect biopic that features an incredible performance from Jamie Foxx, who transforms himself at Ray Charles. This was one of the best films the year it was released, and Foxx rightfully won the Academy Award for his performance. This is often referred to as the modern gold standard for musical biopics and was on nearly every Top 10 musical biopic list I looked at this week when researching this topic. Plus, the music is so fun it makes the movie fun to watch.
Rating: PG-13 for depiction of drug addiction, sexuality and some thematic elements.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Walk The Line (2005)
About: This movie had the unfortunate circumstance of following "Ray," and thus I think it got dismissed a little because it was another musical biopic that was up for awards. Joaquin Phoenix did a great job as Johnny Cash, but was largely overlooked. This did, however, yield an Academy Award for Reese Witherspoon. I liked this movie a lot and think that it's a fascinating biopic and love story. And, like Ray, the music is what helps make it sing.
Rating: PG-13 for some language, thematic material and depiction of drug dependency.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

La Vie En Rose (2007)
About: One of the side effects of me being invested in the Academy Awards is that I like to see all the films that are nominated or have nominated performances. That's how I found "La Vie En Rose," a biopic of Edith Piaf starring Marion Cotillard. Cotillard won Best Actress for her performance, and that's probably the best thing about the film. I wasn't that familiar with Piaf and her music. And, since this film is in French and subtitled, it's probably not for everyone. But Cotillard is great, and you can see why she remains an in-demand actress.
Rating: PG-13 for substance abuse, sexual content, brief nudity, language and thematic elements.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

The Soloist (2009)
About: This might not be the first thing to come to mind when thinking about musical biopics, and that makes sense. This isn't really your typical biopic. But it is a true story about an LA Times reporter and his unlikely friendship with a talented musician suffering from schizophrenia. I love the way this movie is put together. That's thanks in large part to Joe Wright. This was a movie that slide under the radar, but it has great performances from Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr. I found the story, and the music, moving.
Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements, some drug use and language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.