Flickreel’s Top 5 Fictional Music Films

5. Inside Llewyn Davis

This Coen Brothers’ movie follows a week in the life of young singer Llewyn Davis as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. While he embarks on his quest to achieve success as a musician, the film explores the character’s deconstructed lifestyle through a bizarre seven days of his life – and yet we get the feeling that it’s just an average week for our flawed protagonist. Oscar Isaac gives a subtle but sumptuous performance as the eponymous hero, and is joined by an impressive cast including Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake, who play two long-suffering friends that allow money-stricken Llewyn to sleep on their couch before he flees with just a guitar in his hand and a cat on his shoulder. It’s on his travels that he meets the odious jazz musician Roland Turner, played by John Goodman, and – like Goodman – the film itself then takes the backseat as we meander along the frozen highway.

Llewyn’s songs (actually performed by Isaac) provide a backbone to the story and are representative of his gloomy struggles. Most of these are traditional American folk songs, however the one original track composed for the film, “Please Mr. Kennedy”, was nominated for best original song at last year’s Golden Globes and provides us with a hilariously eccentric and memorable scene.

4. A Hard Day’s Night

As soon as you hear the opening chord, you know exactly which song is it. And in 1964, A Hard Day’s Night was not only a hit single, but the title of the first Beatles’ film too. Depicting the lead up to a televised concert and following the band through the height of Beatlemania, this amusing and quirky film cleverly weaves a completely fictional story around their characters. The chemistry and relationship between them all is as strong as it is on stage, and their witty, off the wall one-liners are what make this movie a classic British comedy. The main narrative features Paul’s mischievous Grandad, played by Wilfrid Brambell, who entices Ringo to leave their hotel, and consequently the other 3 Beatles must find him before their big show commences.

The majority of tracks performed in this film are from the album of the same name, and there isn’t a weak one amongst them. A truly great film from Britain’s most proud and prized possession.

3. This is Spinal Tap

Now there are so many great music films out there, that we here at Flickreel were tempted to make this list into a top 10 instead of a top 5, however what we really should have considered was a top 11 just for the sake of this movie. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Rob Reiner all wrote and star in this genius and quite scarily accurate mockumentary. The narrative follows legendary British heavy metal band Spinal Tap who attempt an American comeback tour accompanied by a fan who is also a film-maker. It’s hilarious throughout, and is also one of the most-quoted movies of all time.

2. Almost Famous

One of the best cameo performances you’ll see from the masterful Phillip Seymour Hoffman which sets the scene for a truly great music film. William Miller, played by a young Patrick Fugit, breaks free from his controlling and traditionalist mother, expertly portrayed by Frances McDormand, to join up with fictional rock band Stillwater on the road as a novice music journalist, only to find Rolling Stone Magazine wanting to run his story on the front page. We, as the viewer, go on this journey with William and experience the highs and lows of the music industry, and the emotions that come with it, as William falls for the unstable groupie known only by her apt pseudonym Penny Lane, played by Kate Hudson in arguably her best performance to date. Music is at the core of everything in this film, which highlighted in the bus scene which shows music bringing everyone back together after some heated disagreements.

1. Whiplash

Now you might think it is too soon to label this the greatest fictional music film; you may question whether it will stand the test of time; but with 100% confidence we can say that it will, because Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash is a bonafide masterpiece. Up for Best Picture at this years Oscars, Whiplash has wowed fans and critics alike with its intense and exhilarating tempo. Miles Teller plays Andrew, a promising young jazz drummer who aspires to be the very best. This ambition is increased even further when he meets the sturdy, strict and quite ruthless conductor Fletcher, played by the brilliant JK Simmons, who is a certainty to win an Academy Award for best supporting actor. As the story escalates, Andrew’s determination to match Fletcher’s high expectations gets out of hand, with his devoting every second of the day to drumming: it’s as if his heartbeat is no longer the beat of a heart, but the beat of a drum. The relationship between the two central characters is compelling, as the mind games they both play and the shifts of power make for a fascinating watch.

You do not have to have a passion for music to enjoy this film, as it focuses on the lengths that someone will go to, to achieve their dream, and this is something we can all relate to in some form or another. Whiplash is an experience like no other, so it justly drags and rushes itself to the top of our list.