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Hi, it occured to me last night.
Why don't we share our favorite music-related-movie lists.
Let's put them in order you like better.

I am hoping to discover something I haven't seen yet.
As you can see from my list, my favorites are mostly about a pianist or a musician in general. Or even just a movie with a short moment of piano playing that you can't forget about.

Here goes my list. I hope you find something you want to watch this weekend.

#1. Shine (about a piano prodigy, based on real pianist, David Helfgott's life. Made Geoffrey Rush my favorite actor.)

#2. The Legend of 1900(a fiction about a piano prodigy that spent his whole life on a ship)

#3. Across The Universe (made of The Beatles cover songs only)

#4. Amadeus

#5. Vitus (about a child piano prodigy. Very good story)

#6. MR. HOLLAND´S OPUS

#7. The Piano (not my favorite, but the piano music is nice. Oh, and you don't want to watch this with your children. )

#8. Immortal Beloved (the movie was not very successful. it's about the later portion of Beethoven's life)

#9. Chopin-Desire for Love [the movie itself was a bomb, but you can see Chopin's(of course the actor's) piano playing]

#10. Corps Bride (Tim Burton's animated movie. There are couple of piano playing that I cannot forget about. I got the sheet music!)

#11. A room with a view (The girl plays Beethoven sonata in the rounge of that cozy hotel)

#12. I know I said "movies" but there is this Japanese comic/TV series called "Nodame Cantabile". I recently read the comic books and watched some YouTube videos (they have English subtitles). It's about Japanese young classical musicians. It was huge hit in Japan.

Shire has that wonderful Rach 3...But have only seen clips of the movie.

Great post.

I didn't see the Pianist on your list. That was an amazing movie.

I think I will check out the soundtrack to the Corpse Bride.

Hi Mark-
You mean Shine, right? It is a great movie.
(Or, is there a movie called Shire that I don't know about?)
I've seen it many, many times, but I don't get tired of it.
I don't know if David's father character is based on fact, but he makes me so mad! The way he treats his children, especially how he ruined David's life! What a shame.

Hi, Kymber-

I have seen the Pianist just once, but forgot about it somehow. What's wrong with me! I should watch it again. I do remember the pianist playing amazing music in a half-destroyed building.

And there is another I forgot to mention. This goes between #2 and #3. "Once"

Thanks for your reply.

yes..typo...

OMG! I can't believe I forgot that one too. That has some really beautiful music in it.

In fact I wanted to buy that one.

Thanks for the reminder

The Soloist was a very good movie too. Was just in the theater this Spring.

Love the music from the movie "The Piano!"



No surprise there huh. Love the movie too. Wish Holly Hunter would do another movie. Anna Pacquin was superb as well!

Okay, these aren't all necessarily piano-focused, but among my favorite music-related movies (in no particular order) are:

The Last Waltz
Cadillac Records
The Committments
Ray
Amadeus

and, of course, the previously mentioned Shine and The Piano. I'm sure there are others...

I enjoyed watching Cadillac Records, too.
I have to check out the Last Waltz and the Committments.
Thanks Blues Babe.

CoffeeLover: The Last Waltz is Martin Scorcese's documentary about The Band and their farewell concert (San Francisco, 1976). The roster of performers (in addition to The Band) is staggering: Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Paul Butterfield, Dr. John, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Dylan, and Clapton, to name a few.

The Committments is a story about the trials and tribulations of an R&B band in Dublin whose favorite artist of all time is Wilson Pickett. Amen, brothers and sisters!

BTW, Mr. Holland's Opus and The Pianist are faves of mine, too.

Incredible list. Thanks for the reminder of some great movies - some of my favorites as well - and some forgotten that I may watch again. And some new to me too. Thanks again - some good movie watching ahead for the summer.

Dr. J - The More You Play The Better Your Day

PS - How about Billy Elliott? Great movie about a young dancer in Ireland but has lots of great music too.

Blues Babe,
Sounds cool. My husband and I will surely enjoy those movies. He might have seen those, but I'll make him watch with me again.

Talking about Mr. Holland's Opus, I remember when the girl(the pretty one with very nice voice, sorry can't remember the name)sang "Someone who watch over me" on the stage at the audition for the school play. Wasn't that nice?

Dr. J-
Funny that you mentioned Billy Eliott. We just got it in the mail and going to watch it tonight!

I couldn't find information on "The More You Play The Better Your Day". What kind of movie is it?

My favorite Coen Brothers movie is the hugely underrated The Man Who Wasn't There from 2001. Not only is there great music in the background (Archduke Trio, Beethoven sonatas 30, 25, pastorale, appassionata, etc.), but a very young Scarlet Johanson plays an amateur pianist working on the Pathetique.

In addition to all this, this black-and-white film noir tribute is haunting, strange, and mysterious. Recommended!

Beet,
Thanks! I will check it out.

I am a big fan of Nodame Cantabile too. Glad to know there is another fan here. (They are making 2 more movies!)

There are a lot of soundtrack in piano I like. But Rachel Portman's work is my favorite at the moment. Her work from The Cider House Rules and The Lake House are on my current list.

TinyHands

Billy Elliott took place in WALES not in Ireland