Need a few music biopics to binge-watch this weekend? There are plenty of amazing dramatizations of real-life musicians out there. Some of them do those musicians justice, while others just don’t quite meet the mark. Let’s look at a few great music biopics and a few letdowns, shall we?
1. Got It Right: ‘Ray’
This 2004 drama about soul legend Ray Charles is still beloved by fans for a reason. Jamie Foxx absolutely nails his depiction of Charles, and the storytelling in the film is beautifully done. They do the star justice and tell his story with the right balance of accuracy and dramatization.
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A few fans of Charles were worried that Foxx would turn the former’s life into a joke, considering he was better known for comedy at the time. Foxx proved them all wrong within just a few minutes of the film, and he (rightfully) earned a Best Actor award for it.
2. Got It Right: ‘Straight Outta Compton’
Music biopics rarely feature a famous musician’s son as the famous musician in question. However, that’s exactly what Straight Outta Compton did in having Ice Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., play Ice Cube in this N.W.A. origin story.
It was a smart choice. Jackson portrayed his father with the amount of familiarity that only a son could have, and the rest of the cast was similarly impactful. There was a lot of drama going on behind the scenes, but the movie itself was excellent.
3. Got It Right: ‘Walk The Line’
Don’t get me wrong; this biopic about Johnny Cash isn’t perfect. A lot of fans and family of Cash don’t particularly like how his first wife, Vivian, was portrayed in the film. That being said, this is a beautifully orchestrated biopic about a country music legend.
Joaquin Phoenix plays Cash perfectly, and the whole of the film’s storytelling dramatizes an already dramatic life in an incredibly captivating way.
4. Missed the Mark: ‘Jersey Boys’
The story of Frankie Vallie and The Four Seasons is a dramatic one, so it’s not surprising that their biopic Jersey Boys would be on the dramatic side. The original stage play is a great piece of work. However, the movie version just doesn’t cut it. Stage-to-screen adaptations aren’t easy to put together, unfortunately. Jersey Boys is just too long, a little too flighty in terms of plot, and lacks the energy of the original play.
5. Missed the Mark: ‘I Saw The Light’
I Saw The Light was set up to be one of the most highly-anticipated music biopics in country music history. But this biopic about the iconic Hank Williams, sadly, didn’t quite pan out the way it could have. Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of Hank Williams should be applauded, but even a top-notch actor can’t save a film with lackluster direction, writing, and a lack of intrigue.
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