A good music biopic can transport you to the world of your favorite band or musician and make you feel like you're in that time and place with them.
A bad music biopic can do the opposite. It can turn the band into parody — so much so that even a good soundtrack can't save it.
There's also an ugly music biopic, which is something else entirely. Hopefully you haven't had to experience that too often.
Let's check out a few examples of each.
The Good
These films transport you and totally sell the mystique of the artists you love. You're invested in the story and you care about the characters. The soundtracks are all great and a few of these even win Oscars.
Straight Outta Compton
If you can get your own son to play you in a biopic about your band you're off to a strong start.
With the brilliant casting of O'Shea Jackson Jr to play his father Ice Cube and the flawless direction of F. Gary Grey, Straight Outta Compton tells the story of one of the most influential hip-hip groups of all time, N.W.A.
The film captures the rebellious attitude of N.W.A and the creation of one of the most successful hip-hop albums of all time, but it doesn't stop there. It also tells a story of brotherhood, betrayal and fame's power to corrupt. It's a sad story, and it made for a powerful film. This is highly recommended viewing, whether or not you like N.W.A.
Control
Directed by renowned rock photographer Anton Corbijn, whose work has graced the albums of bands like U2, Depeche Mode, Tom Waits and countless others, Control tells the story of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis.
Joy Division has become one of the most influential bands of their time, and Ian Curtis (who died too young at the age of 23), is an enigmatic figure. The film addresses Joy Division's origin and Curtis' struggle with epilepsy and depression.
Shot in black and white, the film is both a visual and audio masterclass. You don't need to know Joy Division or Ian Curtis to appreciate the dark beauty of this film.
Love and Mercy
Brian Wilson was the most complex Beach Boy, and this film does a phenomenal job telling his story. Both Paul Dano and John Cusack play Wilson at different points in his life, and the film tackles mental illness in a very empathetic way. The creation of The Beach Boys' legendary Pet Sounds is explored and the relationship of the Wilson brothers is examined in detail.
Wilson stated that the film was "very factual," which, after viewing, it's quite sad to imagine such a brilliant artist going through such mental anguish.
If you're a Beach Boys fan or a casual listener, this one's worth your time. It surpasses music biopic and enters into the realm of good movie.
Amadeus
This isn't exactly a biopic, but is one of the best music films of all time. The film Amadeus is based on the play of the same name, and it's important to note that it's not steeped in historical accuracy.
The film that tells the story of the most famous composer of all time (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) could have been a snoozefest or appeal only to classical music fans, but that's not the case here! Director Milos Forman crafted something truly special, and the film went on to win the 1984 Academy Award for Best Picture.
Mozart was a musical genius, and Tom Hulce plays the role phenomenally. Turning Mozart into a childlike goofball who constantly outshines his musical rival Antonio Salieri makes for some great laughs, but the themes of madness and obsession, as well as the overall power of music, is where the film really shines.
Ray
When it comes to portraying a musician and totally embodying that person, Jaime Foxx takes the cake for his portrayal of Ray Charles.
The film masterfully tackles Charles' blindness, heroin addiction, sexual daliances and his love of the piano. Foxx does such a good job that it almost feels like you're watching the real Ray Charles. Foxx later went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for this performance.
Regardless of your knowledge of soul music or Ray Charles it's worth a watch and is a powerful story. It's a great testament to the power of a music biopic done right.
The Bad
Usually a couple things are wrong when a music biopic is done poorly. The performances are corny, the story is over dramatized, the feeling just isn't there. Here are a few "bad" biopics to avoid ... or not, if you want some corny fun.
The Dirt
I'll admit it, I hate Mötley Crüe, and I don't care who knows it!
Going into it, the chances of me enjoying this were slim, but at the end of the day it's just a bad movie, regardless of my dislike of the band.
It's corny to the max, the story is generic and the casting of Machine Gun Kelly as drummer Tommy Lee is just ridiculous. Put The Dirt in the dirt, where it belongs.
All Eyez on Me
Tupac Shakur is one of the most famous and influential rappers of all time. How could a biopic on him go so wrong?
Well, besides Demetrius Shipp Jr's portrayal of Shakur (which is solid) there's nothing to like here. It's uninspired, poorly directed and just feels like it didn't understand the subject. Shakur was (and is still) a complex person, and his contributions to the genre and zeitgeist of the '90s cannot be understated.
Here's hoping that down the line a proper Tupac biopic gets its due and tells a more balanced story. In the meantime, at least we have a worthy season from the podcast Slow Burn to enjoy (season three's where it's at).
The Doors
This one's a cult classic, so it's clearly enjoyed by some fans.
Directed by Oliver Stone and starring Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison, The Doors falls into that unfortunate territory of corniness. Kilmer was a great actor, but his portrayal of Morrison gets so over the top at times that it's almost comical. The drug sequences are just too much, and it really feels like it turned the band into caricatures of themselves.
Stone needed to show some restraint while making this one. Its redeeming trait? The soundtrack is great.
Back to Black
Amy Winehouse's story is sad. She was incredibly talented, but destroyed her life with drugs and alcohol and died (again too young) at 27. What Back to Black does so wrong is it turns this story melodramatic.
Winehouse had a very dysfunctional relationship with her father, and the film doesn't do a good job at all in dealing with this aspect of her life.
Overall this film is a missed opportunity, which makes it hard to swallow because Winehouse was so talented. Do yourself a favor and watch the documentary Amy instead.
The Ugly
These next few are in a realm of their own and should be viewed with caution. They are very, very bad. Instead of lifting up their subjects, they make mockeries of them (and to be clear, that wasn't their intent).
Britney Ever After
Britney Ever After attempts to tell the story of Britney Spears. It does not succeed.
The "film" is the cinematic equivalent of a knockoff perfume that's weirdly off and guaranteed to give you a headache. It’s a biopic so unauthorized it feels like even the script was trying to escape.
One might say this one is "Toxic ..."
Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story
It's so cheesy it hurts.
Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story manages to turn one of rock’s wildest yarns into something that feels like required viewing for a high school health class.
The scene where singer Joe Elliot lays down the vocals to "Rock of Ages" is cringe inducing. Meanwhile, the most dramatic part of Def Leppard's history is when drummer Rick Allen loses his arm in a car accident, and that moment in the film is weirdly devoid of feeling.
If you ever encounter this film, run the other way.
Stardust
How do you make a biopic of David Bowie's life without securing the rights to any of his music?
Turns out it can be done. But not well. Not well at all. Instead, you make a horrible film. It's totally undercooked and lacking in all areas. At the end, you feel that Stardust is more a slap in the face to Bowie's legacy than anything else.
Instead, honor Bowie by never watching this film.
