Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis is putting up a fight, coming in third place over the Fourth of July weekend behind Top Gun: Maverick and Minions: The Rise of Gru after a mediocre opening weekend. There is no denying that Austin Butler portrays the titular rock and roll legend admirably and flawlessly, nailing his Southern drawl, charisma, and distinctive dance skills. The singer’s highs and lows are the main focus of the film, especially his interaction with Colonel Tom Parker, his manager. Let’s look at some of the earlier best musical biopics that have been produced. Quite a handful of them have even won Oscars.
1. La Bamba (1987)
Director- Luis Valdez
Thanks to the 1958 love ballad “Donna,” which Ritchie Valens wrote for his girlfriend. Her parents opposed her dating a Latino boy, the Los Angeles teen becomes an instant rock ‘n’ roll success. But as his star rises, Valens fights with his envious brother, Bob. He soon starts to have recurring nightmares about a plane crash. As he embarks on his first nationwide tour with Buddy Holly.
2. Selena (1997)
Director- Gregory Nava
Veteran musician and Mexican-American Abraham Quintanilla works low-paying concerts with his band Los Dinos. All throughout South Texas in an effort to support his family. Abraham redistributes his attention to his expanding family after years of attempting to gain fans beyond their local area. However, he is failing to win over audiences who were made up primarily of white people. Abraham starts preparing his children to continue and excel where he left off. However, soon his vivacious, pre-teen daughter Selena surprises him with her natural voice abilities.
3. Ray (2004)
Director- Taylor Hackford
The life story of the iconic rhythm and blues performer Ray Charles is unquestionably one-of-a-kind. Ray Charles, who was born into an impoverished household, experienced the horrible event of watching his brother drown. It was a horrific shock that permanently damaged his eyesight. Hence, caused him to go blind by the time he was seven. When Ray Charles lost his mother at the age of fifteen, he made the decision to strive for his ambition. He was successful. However, music and sounds were always Ray Charles’ sanctuary. America in the 1940s and 1950s was completely taken aback by Ray’s extraordinary talent and charismatic demeanour. With the way he performed his songs, his distinctive suit and black glasses, the broad smile on his face, Ray Charles, a true pioneer, ignited a musical revolution.
4. Walk The Line (2005)
Director- James Mangold
Johnny Cash was born and raised in Arkansas. While serving in the Air Force, he made a guitar purchase in Germany. After the war, he got married. He recorded a song in Memphis with two other men while they played and sang. Cash’s popularity grew as a result of radio play and live performances. Soon he began travelling with artists like Jerry Lee Lewis and others. He experienced the repercussions of his drug addiction while on tour. Additionally, he met June Carter, his future wife. Cash performed a renowned concert for the inmates in Folsom Prison in California as a response, in part, to fan mail he received from prisoners.
5. La Vie en Rose (2007)
Director- Olivier Dahan
A non-chronological look at Édith Piaf’s life as the Little Sparrow (1915-1963). Her paternal grandmother is a madam, her father is a circus performer, and her mother is an alcoholic street singer. She stays with each of them while she is a child. At age 20, she is a street performer who is spotted by a club owner who is subsequently assassinated. She is then trained by a musician who takes her to concert venues, where she becomes instantly famous. Heartache and drink are constant companions. The tragic events surrounding her relationship with Marcel Cerdan and the passing of her only child contradict the lyrics of one of her most well-known songs, “Non, je ne regrette rien.” The narrative’s back-and-forth flow raises questions about memory and association patterns.
6. Get On Up (2014)
Director- Tate Taylor
James Brown, a musician, describes a tumultuous childhood and how music was the only outlet that allowed him to express his passions productively as he made his way to the stage. When he accidentally showed it in prison, he made a new buddy who assisted in getting him released and into a musical career. With his passion and creative audacity, Brown rose to fame as a star who defied racism and conventional wisdom to open up new opportunities in show industry, both on and off the stage. Along the way, James would also develop into a mediator who, when it was most required, redefined and elevated the African-American community’s sense of self-worth.
However, as his desires grew more destructive of himself, those same dominant passions would cause James Brown to alienate everyone around him. Brown doesn’t understand what he needs to do to make his life as the Godfather of Soul genuinely valuable until he hits rock bottom as a result of a grave error.
7. Straight Outta Compton (2015)
Director- F. Gary Gray
In the 1980s, five men struggled to create N.W.A, a pioneering hip-hop music group, in one of the US’s most dangerous suburbs. Straight Outta Compton’s debut album, which featured contentious songs that reflected the insecurities of minorities, became well-known. Along with their concert tour and their close friendship, which becomes stronger every day, the controversy surrounding certain songs from their album prompted them to interact with the law. Their quest led them into the shadowy side of fame, where sex, drugs, and self-doubt lead to several life-altering incidents that are pursuing them. They need to take care of themselves in this situation to prevent dangerous problems from approaching.
8. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Director(s)- Bryan Singer, Dexter Fletcher
Farrokh Bulsara, an Indian Parsi exile working as a luggage handler at Heathrow Airport in 1970s London, recognises a wonderful chance when the lead singer of the nearby band Smile decides to leave. The unassuming Zanzibar youngster changes his name to Freddie Mercury and, along with guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, and bassist John Deacon, they establish the wildly popular British rock band Queen. Queen is known for their remarkable vocal range. The Queen will have to endure a reunion, however, just in time for a remarkable 20-minute performance at London’s Wembley Stadium during the 1985 Live Aid (1985) concert, despite stardom, poor choices, and a disastrous AIDS diagnosis.
9. Rocketman (2019)
Director- Dexter Fletcher
A rare musical jewel, Rocketman departs from the conventional musical biopic template by telling its story as a musical wonderland. Despite this distinction, the focus of the film is on his struggles with addiction and alcoholism as well as his violent work relationship—two issues that Elvis Presley also encounters in Elvis. Nevertheless, the narrative follows John’s journey of redemption, in which he finally develops the confidence to speak up and become independent.
10. Respect (2021)
Director- Liesl Tommy
By narrating its narrative as a musical paradise, Rocketman, a rare musical gem, breaks from the traditional biopic framework. Despite this distinction, the movie primarily focuses on the man’s battles with addiction and alcoholism as well as his violent work relationship—two problems that Elvis Presley also faces in the film Elvis. But the story chronicles John’s path to redemption, during which he ultimately gains the courage to speak up and take charge of his life.
