Here is the top 10 Rock movies......
10. Purple RainA time capsule movie if there ever was one, this sumptuously shot Prince vehicle is better known now for its Grammy and Oscar-winning score than for its quality as a film. Nevertheless, the rather misogynistic Purple Rain captures the music of its era (the mid-'80s) and is noteworthy for being one of the first feature films to bring music video style to the big-screen. The flimsy story charts "The Kid's" (a pompous, surly Prince) rise to fame from the Minneapolis music scene, his stormy relationship with his dad (Clarence Williams III), his wooing of the sexy Apollonia, and his rivalry with snide scene-stealer Morris Day.
9. Hedwig and The Angry InchThis cult classic, based on an Off-Broadway musical, was directed by and stars John Cameron Mitchell. It tells the story of an East German youth named Hansel who undergoes a botched sex change operation after falling for an American G.I. Renamed Hedwig, she goes to America to follow her glam rock star dreams only to have that dream shattered when her lover Tommy Gnossis (Michael Pitt) steals her songs, her name and becomes the rock icon she always wanted to be.
8. The DoorsOliver Stone's trippy, muddled biopic of late rocker-poet Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer, who also does most of his own singing), lead singer for the titular band, is more concerned with Morrison's self-destructive quest for "the palace of wisdom" than analyzing his musical contributions. One of the most dynamic and controversial musical personalities of the 1960s, Morrison died at 27 after years of drug and alcohol abuse. While the film covers a lot of traditional musical biopic ground (starting the band, hitting it big, the inevitable downward spiral), The Doors effectively captures the self-destructive nature of this rock god and the turbulent times that spawned him.
7. TommyThis 1975 rock opera features a who's who of 1970s rock and film stars, including The Who, Elton John, Jack Nicholson, Ann-Margret (who was nominated for Best Actress), Oliver Reed, Tina Turner and Eric Clapton. Written and directed by Ken Russell, this cult classic follows troubled Tommy (Roger Daltrey) who seems like a hopeless case until he beats The Pinball Wizard (Elton John) and becomes a celebrity. His fame is so powerful that Tommy founds his own religious cult but he raises the ire of his fans when he protests their commercialization of himself. The Who later returned to rock opera territory with Quadrophenia.
6. Sid and NancyDirector Alex Cox offers a gritty, powerful look at the doomed relationship between The Sex Pistols' wildy self-destructive guitarist Sid Vicious (Gary Oldman) and his American groupie-girlfriend Nancy Spungen (Chloe Webb). Although Sid and Nancy recreates the rise of the infamous British punk rock band, the film's primary focus is on the twisted love story between the drug-addled title characters whose relationship would end in tragedy and bloodshed.
5. The Buddy Holly StoryA then-skinny Gary Busey scored an Oscar nomination as Best Actor for his portrayal of the late rock pioneer Buddy Holly (he even does his own singing) in this thoughtful, well made biopic. The film follows Buddy's teen years in Lubbock, Texas where his love for "the devil's music" earned him the condemnation of the self-righteous sect but made him a star in the burgeoning realm of rock n' roll. Buddy – along with Ritchie Valens (immortalized in the film La Bamba) and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson - died in a plane crash at age 22 ("the day the music died"). Don Stroud and Charles Martin Smith co-star as Holly's band, The Crickets.
4. Jailhouse RockWhile not The King's movie, this 1957 flick is certainly his coolest and it captures the rebellious and sexually charged persona that made Elvis Presley the most dangerous young man of his time. Hot-headed laborer Vince Everett (Elvis) is convicted of manslaughter after getting into a tragic bar brawl. Vince's cellmate, a washed-up country singer, sees his musical potential and encourages him to pursue it. After being released from prison and enduring a rough start in the music biz, Vince eventually finds fame and fortune thanks to potential love interest Peggy Van Alden. But success goes to Vince's head and his temper and arrogance lead to his comeuppance. Along with King Creole, Viva Las Vegas and Flaming Star, Jailhouse Rock is one of Elvis' few viewable movies. It also features a classic dance sequence for the title song choreographed by The King himself.
3. A Hard Day's NightRichard Lester directed this 1964 classic that remains one of the most influential movies about rock bands, in this case documenting The Beatles at the start of international Beatlemania. Thanks to its "a day in the life" approach, A Hard Day's Night is essentially the grandfather of the rockumentary. The faux plot of the film, which is laden with gags and musical interludes, has the Fab Four trying to reach a big gig as Paul McCartney keeps an eye on his grandfather, John Lennon clashes with a TV director, Ringo Starr gets jailed, and George Harrison suffers a case of mistaken identity. Lester and The Beatles would reunite for Help! in 1965.
2. This Is Spinal TapActor Rob Reiner, who also stars, made his feature filmmaking debut with this beloved 1984 mockumentary about the fictitious British band Spinal Tap, charting their rise from skiffle group to the psychedelic era to hard rock. The movie within the movie documents Spinal Tap's first stateside tour in years, which results in a horrendous series of indignities, squabbles and debacles. Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Christopher Guest play band members David St. Hubbins, Derek Smalls, and Nigel Tufnel, respectively.
1. Almost FamousWriter-director Cameron Crowe's quasi-autobiographical film follows teen journalist William Miller's (Patrick Fugit) time with the (fictitious) rock band Stillwater (including guitarist Billy Crudup and singer Jason Lee) while covering them for Rolling Stone magazine. Along the way, he encounters mentor-rock critic Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and beautiful "band-aide" Penny Lane (Oscar nominee Kate Hudson). Miller's transformation from sheltered adolescent to professional journalist and young man makes for a funny and poignant coming-of-age tale. Almost Famous is arguably the most affectionate, honest and fun movie yet made about rock and roll and those who love and live for it.
(Source: IGN.com)
