What's your favorite movie about rock and roll?

[BurtWorm]

I have to think about mine. I saw two Joy Division films this weekend, one a documentary and the other the biopic Control. The documentary, especially in DVD format (with loads of outtakes from interviews included), had a lot to recommend it.

I was frankly most surprised by Peter Hook, who comes across as still a bit of a lad after all these years. You just don't expect a member of Joy Division to reminisce fondly about kicking someone's arse--literally, with his shoe and with intention to cause pain. Then, of course, he is from Manchester, and was from it since before it was a hip place to be from. Hookie's a most enjoyable character.

Control was made by Anton Corbijn, who had hung around the band taking pictures when he was fresh in England from Holland. It was actually because of Joy Division that Corbijn moved to England, and that makes Control an unusually personal biopic. It's beautifully filmed in black and white, and the actors playing the bandmates are uncannily similar in look to their characters, especially Sam Ryan who plays Ian Curtis. Unfortunately, Control can't escape entirely from the biopic curse of seeming like a poor imitation of reality, especially when recreating mythic moments from the band's past (as in Curtis's encounter with the girl who inspired "She's Lost Control"). Even as close a resemblance as Ryan bears to Curtis, his impression of Curtis's inimitable performance style can't rise above looking like a poor imitation. And it's probably as good an imitation as anyone will ever do!

That said, for me, Control was miles above most other rock biopics and I do highly recommend it. But see the documentary (called Joy Division, amazingly enough) as well.

[HopeHoops]

1. "This Is Spinal Tap"

No contest.

[bif]

2. Abso-frigging-lutely!

Tap into the future!

[TZ]

3. elevens!!!!111

Anyone who says otherwise is a wanker;)

[no name no slogan]

13. The Alpha and Omega of rock flix

Game over.

[Initech]

22. +11!!!

:headbang:

[pokerfan]

4. That Thing You Do

Since Spinal Tap was already taken.

[Beaverhausen]

8. I love that film!

It's so sweet and funny. The music is great, too.

[pokerfan]

21. Fun little movie

I like the little details like how their instruments improve as they become more popular and the replacement bass player's "audition" is hysterical:

The extended version is worth renting. When re-released on DVD in 2007, the film came with the original theatrical cut, and an extended cut of the film. The extended cut included the following changes:
* 1) Extended scenes showing Guy Patterson's relationship with Tina in Erie, PA.
* 2) Extended scenes of the band rehearsing.
* 3) Jimmy coaxes Guy's uncle to record the song "All My Only Dreams" as a B-side to "That Thing You Do."
* 4) The band's experience at the Orpheum Theatre in Pittsburgh.
* 5) The Bass Player's romantic affair with a member of The Chantrellines.
* 6) After the band has unofficially split, Guy meets up again with one of his idols, Del Paxton. Del and a number of fellow Jazz members are also in the studio, working on some new music. Guy contacts a local Jazz DJ who had interviewed The Wonders. The DJ tells Guy that he can get him a job if he could interview Del and his friends.
* This makes the ending differ from the theatrical cut, where Guy was unsure just what he would do while staying in California. The Extended Cut now has Guy secure with a job.

[Beaverhausen]

23. Oh, cool - I will look for that

My fav scene is when they hear their song on the radio for the first time and they are running down the street and jumping with joy!

I actually had a similar real life experience the first time I got a song on the radio - complete with jumping up and down in the street.

[pokerfan]

26. Very cool

I like how, in that scene, the bass player (T.B. Player in the credits) pauses to wipe his shoes before entering the appliance store. :rofl:

[jobycom]

5. Almost Famous, at the moment.

[tigereye]

45. that's a lovely fun film...

[Rhythm]

6. Rec from this Joy Division fan...

I haven't yet seen the documentary, but i am anxious to do so.

Control i was dying to see from the moment i heard it was in production, and it did not disappoint. Sam Riley was absolutely outstanding, and the whole film is stunning. Corbjin and his cast deserve every festival award they received.

[Juche]

7. Meal Loaf: To hell and back

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0242956/

I loved it, I saw it on TV back when I was in college.

[meegbear]

9. The Wall ...

Q-E-Motherfuckin'-D

[Dr. Strange]

20. Which I've yet to see...

believe it or not.

[Arugula Latte]

10. Have you ever seen "24 Hour Party People"?

It's about the Madchester/Hacienda scene 30 years ago (*gasp!* could it really be that long ago?). Joy Division features prominently.

Here's a link to the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1Qz2x94q6A

[BurtWorm]

11. Yes I did see it. Steve Coogan was brilliant as Tony Wilson.

:applause:

[Tikki]

48. Great movie...

Interesting as hell....


Tikki

[bif]

12. Actually, for serious movies: "Pink Floyd at Pompeii" and

"Nick and Norah's Endless Playlist" which is sort of about R&R. And Backbeat" about the Beatles during their German period.

[no name no slogan]

14. I remember reading stuff about Hooky back in the 1980s

And he's always been a bit of a lout. Although all the guys in Joy Division were from working class backgrounds, I think Hook's was probably the most working class (Ian Curtis's dad was a cop and they lived in council housing).

Hook was well known for picking fights at Joy Division gigs, especially if they were getting heckled. There's one famous incident where he got off the stage and hammered a heckler with his bass, and chased him around the venue. He walked off stage and the rest of the band carried on without him.

However, he's still a great bass player and redefined its role in modern music.

[ghostsofgiants]

15. Control was a great film. That was going to be my choice.

As for dcumentaries:
The Decline of Western Civilization
Instrument (Fugazi)
Miroir Noir (Arcade Fire)
Refused Are Fucking Dead (Refused)
Kill Your Idols

[BurtWorm]

17. I just saw Kill Your Idols.

I wish it had gone deeper into the early punk scene. It was very interesting on the subject of No Wave. It lost a little focus as it got closer to our day and time.

The Mission of Burma movie--Not a Photograph--was very well done. I'm quessing you'd like it.

And I also saw last year a most entertaining film on the rivalry between the Brian Jonestown Massacre and Dandy Warhols.

[ghostsofgiants]

18. I really need to check out the Mission of Burma movie, I love that band.

[jonnyblitz]

34. I loved the movie Dig! also (the BJM vs Dandy Warhols movie).

I just bought it for my sister for her birthday along with Gonzo(about Hunter S. Thompson and Dream of Life (Patti Smith documentary). I saw Control when it first came out and loved it, btw.

I recommend the Patti Smith documentary if you like her.

I also hope my sister isn't reading DU and sees what I got her. she sometimes posts here....

[MrScorpio]

16. The Song Remains The Same

Followed by The Doors

[ceile]

19. What? No "Satisfaction" or "Light of Day"?

:rofl:

[gmoney]

42. Satisfaction rawked!

"My girl don't tease pud for no money!"

Quite a cast though! A young Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson (was he ever young?), Britta Phillips (later of Luna and Dean & Britta), Debbie Harry, Steve Cropper (guitarist for Blues Brothers, Otis Redding, etc.), and of course, Justine Bateman.

I remember seeing Elvis Costello play once not long after this film first hit cable, and he commented something like "I saw a film on TV today where a bunch of teenage girls were singing my songs... it was a lot less enjoyable than I would have imagined." (They do 2 or 3 EC songs in the film.)

P.S. Britta may have the best legs in modern rock. To wit:

[Beaverhausen]

24. "The Rose" anyone?

I can't choose just one - my top 5:

The Rose
Almost Famous
That Thing You Do
Spinal Tap
Bye, Bye Birdie

then there are all the Beatles movies...sigh.

[AngryAmish]

25. Decline of Western Civilization

[Rambis]

27. Grateful Dead movie

Love the animation and the band is in good form. Dead Ahead the Radio City Music hall show is great too- Lost Sailor-> Saint of Circumstance rocks!

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=44612599

[Sequoia]

28. Pink Floyd's , "The Wall"

[Captain Hilts]

29. A little black and white film...

[LeftyMom]

30. American Hardcore.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Hardcore-Dez-Cadena/dp/B000LPR6FQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1242160521&sr=8-1

[peacefreak]

31. The Commitments

and one no one's ever seen--Still Crazy. It's worth seeing for Bill Nighy's performance alone.

[gmoney]

32. The Unheard Music, featuring X

"Play this Movie Loud"

[Mike 03]

33. "Gimme Shelter," a very raw documentary about the famous Stones concert

at Altamont. It is a very, very disturbing film that climaxes with a murder of a guy by a member of the Hell's Angels.

George Lucas was a second unit cameraman on the film! This was years and years before he directed "American Graffiti."

ON EDIT:

I attempted to post a link to the Wiki about the film, but the link was not working--even though it was supposed to be about the film, it linked to the song, so I removed the link.

There is a great entry on the film at Wiki.

Test edit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimme_Shelter_(documentary)


I give up. This is the strangest thing ever. I'm directly cutting and pasting from the Wiki entry on the movie, but when I test the link here, it takes me to the entry on the song "Gimme Shelter."

Why the hell isn't the link for the movie translating into the correct link when I cut and paste it here. Weird...

[mitchum]

35. Cocksucker Blues...

Robert Frank's documentary about the greatest rockandroll band in the world. When they were at the height of their powers.

[mitchum]

36. delete

[Mike 03]

37. Except director Robert Frank and the Stones admitted it was all staged.

Has it ever been released? My understanding is that COCKSUCKER BLUES was not released.

[mitchum]

38. I don't care about the alleged staging; who the hell expects sincerity from...

the Rolling Stones?
It's still only available as a less-than-legal bootleg

[Mike 03]

39. LOL! Good point about "Sincerity" and the "Stones." I have to agree with you on that point.

But, also to your point, one thing I respect about GIMME SHELTER--an aspect of that film that fascinates me--is that that is the only time I have seen them caught with their pants down, so to speak. I believe the emotion expressed by the bandmembers in that film is sincere, and I'm even amazed, to this day, that they didn't interfere with the release of that film.

[mitchum]

57. I agree with you about Gimme Shelter...

the shock on the faces of both Jagger and Watts certainly does appear to be genuine.
I also enjoy the footage shot in Muscle Shoals. Years ago, I stole a tack out of the piano located at that studio.

[surrealAmerican]

40. Rock and Roll High School.

[old mark]

41. "Rock n Roll High School" The Ramones - a very funny movie done by

Roger Corman, great performance by PJ Soles as Riff Randall.

One of my all time movie favorites - I really love the exploding mice.

mark

[LanternWaste]

43. The Commitments.

The Commitments.

"I'm black, and I'm proud..."

[Jade Fox]

44. "I Want to Hold Your Hand"

Fictional, but it captured the nutty ecstasy of Beatlemania quite well in moments. ("Who is both the oldest and the youngest Beatle?)

[Tikki]

46. The Fearless Freaks...

http://www.fearlessfreaks.com/
The Flaming Lips

Tikki

[Bennyboy]

47. The Kids Are Alright! The WHO!

I love this movie...

[Manifestor_of_Light]

49. Especially the hotel commercial with Steve Martin

For rock stars that want to destroy hotels....Steve Martin walks in and guess who is lying in the soap bubbles....Keith Moon, of course. :D

[AllenVanAllen]

50. He Sold His Soul for Rock 'n' Roll.

The Phantom of The Paradise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYFTbzREY7M




Corny as hell but great visuals and music!

[Mendocino]

51. The Last Waltz

Woodstock, American Graffiti, and Don't Look Back.

[carlyhippy]

52. That Thing You Do and Satisfaction are tied in my book

Carly

[bif]

53. I can't believe no one has mentioned "Woodstock"!

The Grandaddy of them all.

[kwassa]

54. "Don't Look Back" documentary about Dylan on tour in England in the 60s

You understand immediatedly why he was a star.

[Bragi]

55. Buddy Holly Story

Good film. Gary Busey was terrific.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

56. Well, it's more country/rockabilly, but I enjoyed "Walk the Line" a lot

Joaquin Phoenix, as batshit insane as he apparently is or leads us to believe, is/was a great actor, and that movie proved no exception.

[mitchum]

58. I have a friend who called that movie "A Star Is Bored"...

actually, it wasn't a friend...it was me :)
I really really like Joy Divsion and enjoyed "Control", but found the pacing to be just too static. It was certainly a film directed by a still photographer.