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Three Music Movies You've Gotta See

There’s music in movies, and then there are music movies. There’s a big difference, one that you can start to notice with these three musically stimulating films.

Once – 2006
This movie broke my heart. The emotion transpired through the music made it one of the most moving films I’ve ever watched. It’s dubbed a musical, but don’t let that scare you away. Once is an Irish independent film that brings together the stories of two unnamed characters, an Irish street musician, played by Glen Hansard, and a Czech immigrant, portrayed by Markéta Ilglová. The two musicians forge a bond through their music, but their different lives end up leading them in opposite directions. Much of the music is written by Hansard’s own band, The Frames, who have released a number of successful albums in Ireland.
Once you’ve watched it, listen to:
The Cost by The Frames
This album features many of the songs from Once and is a powerful collection of acoustic rock songs, all of which will strike a chord in your heart.

Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard in Fox Searchlight's Once

Control – 2007
If you like happy endings, don’t watch this movie. If you like black and white films about what could have been a long-lasting post-punk band in the seventies and eighties… watch Control. This movie follows the painfully short life of Ian Curtis, the lead singer for the English rock group, Joy Division. In the five years of Joy Division’s existence, Curtis struggled to come to grips with being famous and had difficulty remaining faithful to his family as his band’s success increased. Control is filled with incredible music from Joy Division, and Sam Riley does an exceptional job not only portraying Curtis’ music, but also the internal struggles that plagued him throughout his life.
Once you’ve watched it, listen to:
Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division
Joy Division’s debut album is filled with great tracks that appeared in Control, including the song that inspired the film’s title, She’s Lost Control. Led by Curtis’ strained vocals, Joy Division had an incredibly unique and haunting sound, one that should have continued long past the two albums the band was able to record.

Sam Riley in The Weinstein Company's Control

The Kids Are Alright – 1979
I wasn’t a huge fan of The Who before I watched this ‘rockumentary’, but I am now madly in love with Keith Moon, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Pete Townshend. The Kids are Alright is a compilation of concert footage and interviews of The Who, filmed between 1964 and 1978. The film is chock full of The Who’s on-stage antics which are, quite literally, rather smashing. The music is obviously classic and timeless, but there is something to be said about being able to see footage of the band performing in their prime. Daltrey’s tricks with his corded microphone, Moon’s deliriously enthusiastic drumming as well as the energy from both Entwistle and Townshend make watching this film wonderfully entertaining as well as educational, for those eager to learn as much as they can about classic rock.
Once you’ve watched it, listen to:
The Who! Any album... or you could watch the movie Tommy, which also features The Who’s music. Be warned however, you will seriously be turned off of brown beans following your viewing of this album…

The Who rocks any generation!