The ballad of a true original.

Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz, Eriko Hatsune, Big Bill Morganfield, Will Harrison, Scoot McNairy

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Two hundred people in that room and each one wants me to be somebody else. They should just fuck off and let me be." - Bob Dylan

Why watch this? There was folk music, then there was Dylan.

Plot Summary: This biopic follows a young Bob Dylan as he arrives in NYC's Greenwich Village in the early 1960s to make his mark on the folk music scene. He quickly achieves meteoric success and becomes a cultural phenomenon, while simultaneously juggling complex romantic relationships and his growing status as the voice of a generation. Ultimately, the film chronicles his bold, highly controversial decision to abandon traditional acoustic folk for electric rock-and-roll.

Veritas Ent. Group, White Water, Range Media Partners,
The Picture Co., Turnpike Films; Searchlight Pictures

Fight. Dream. Hope. Love.

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You must think me mad! I've hunted you across the years. Men like you can never change. A man such as you!" - Javert

Why watch this? This is a very well-done rendition of the famous Broadway play.

Plot Summary: Jean Valjean, a former convict who breaks parole seeking a new life, is constantly pursued by the relentless Inspector Javert. Valjean's journey involves his attempt to live an honest life and becoming the guardian of a young girl named Cosette after her mother's tragic demise. The film culminates amidst the backdrop of political unrest and a student rebellion in Paris.

Relativity Media, Working Title Films,
Camack Int'l; Universal Pictures

A divinely decadent experience!

Starring: Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem, Marisa Berenson, Joel Gray, Fritz Wepper, Elisabeth, Neumann-Viertel, Helen Vita, Ralf Wolter

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Outside it is windy, but inside it is so hot, every night we have ze battle to keep the girls from taking off all their clothing. So don't go away, who knows? Tonight we may lose the battle!" - Master of Ceremonies

Why watch this? This film is intelligent, fun, imperfect, cynical, and leaves you with a lot to think about.

Plot Summary: In 1930s Berlin, a young, reserved English academic named Brian Roberts becomes entangled in the vibrant, decadent world of a local nightclub, the Kit Kat Club, run by a flamboyant Emcee. He falls in love with the club's star performer, the unpredictable and free-spirited American singer Sally Bowles, and they navigate a complex, unconventional relationship amidst the rise of the Nazi party. Their personal lives and the club's carefree atmosphere eventually collide with the incoming regime.

ABC Pictures Corp.; Allied Artists

This time, the princess saves the prince.

Starring: (the voices of) Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong, Miguel Ferrer, June Foray, James Hong, Pat Morita, George Takei

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Just because I look like a man doesn't mean I have to smell like one." - Mulan

Why watch this? This may be my favorite of all of Disney's female lead roles.

Plot Summary: Fearing for her ailing father's life, Mulan disguises herself as a man and takes his place in the Imperial army to fight off a Hun invasion. Accompanied by a disgraced family guardian dragon and a lucky cricket, she trains alongside other recruits and eventually demonstrates her cunning in battle. Her bravery earns her the respect of her comrades and the Emperor, ultimately saving China and bringing honor to her family.

Walt Disney Feature Animation;
Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

The only thing more extraordinary than their music is his story

Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joe Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander, Mike Myers

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I'm going to be what I was born to be: a performer that gives the people what they want: a touch of the heavens! Freddie f'ing Mercury." - Freddie

Why watch this? Queen was an integral part of my youth. This is their story.

Plot Summary: This rock and roll epoch follows Freddie Mercury and the legendary rock band Queen. It chronicles their rise to fame, from the band's formation to their iconic performance at Live Aid in 1985. Along the way we also explore Mercury's personal struggles with his identity, relationships and drug use, amidst their unparalleled success.

Regency Ent., GK Films, Queen Films;
20th Century Fox

Dance with the devil.

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, Delroy Lindo, Peter Dreimanis, Lola Kirke, Li Jun Li, Saul Williams, Yao

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You keep dancing with the devil... one day he's gonna follow you home." – Pastor Jedidiah

Why watch this? Mudbound meets From Dusk til Dawn. Hell yea!

Plot Summary: Twin brothers, World War I veterans, return to their hometown in 1932 Mississippi hoping to open a juke joint and start a new life. Their plans for a safe haven in the Jim Crow South take a dark turn when a sinister, supernatural force descends upon their community. The brothers and their community are forced to face this ageless, unexpected evil.

Proximity Media; Warner Bros. Pictures

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle, Sam Elliott, Rafi Gavron, Anthony Ramos

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"All you got is you and what you have to say to people and they are listening right now and they are not going to be listening forever. Trust me. So you gotta grab it and you don't apologize." – Jack

Why watch this? It is nice to see the usually outrageous Lady Gaga portray a regular girl. She's a beautiful soul.

Plot Summary: Jackson Maine, an established but troubled musician battling addiction, discovers and falls in love with Ally, a talented singer-songwriter who's given up on her dreams. He helps launch her career and they embark on a passionate romance, but as Ally's star rises, Jackson's personal demons begin to tear their relationship apart.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pics, Live Nation Prod.,
Gerber Pictures, Peters Ent., Joint Effort;
Warner Bros. Pictures

The only thing more extraordinary than the music is the man behind it: Ray Charles

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, Aunjajue Ellis, Harry Lennix, Terrence Howard, Bokeem Woodbine, Sharon Warren, Curtis Armstrong, Larenz Tate, C. J. Sanders, Regina King, Richard Schiff, Wendell Pierce

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I'll show you how to do something once, I'll help you if you mess up twice, but the third time you're on your own. 'Cause that's how it is in the world." - Aretha Robinson to young Ray as he is going blind

Why watch this? Jamie Foxx shines as the incomparable Ray Charles.

Plot Summary: This biopic chronicles the life of legendary musician Ray Charles, following his journey from a childhood of poverty and tragedy in the South to his meteoric rise as a trailblazing star in the 1950s and 60s. While achieving immense musical success, he grapples with personal demons, including a long-term battle with heroin addiction and the emotional trauma of losing his sight and his brother at a young age.

Bristol Bay Productions, Anvil Films, Baldwin
Ent. Group; Universal Pictures

The only way to tell his story is to live his fantasy.

Starring: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard, Gemma Jones, Stephen Graham, Steven Mackintosh, Tom Bennett

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You know, I am so sick of running away from who I am. There's nothing wrong with success or pleasure. In fact, why am I apologizing for it, mum?" - Elton John

Why watch this? This clever bio film jumps from reality to animated thought and back, and it is brilliant!

Plot Summary: Rocketman tells the incredible true story of Reginald Dwight's journey from a shy piano prodigy to the global superstar Elton John. The film chronicles his rise to fame alongside lyricist Bernie Taupin, while also exploring his personal struggles with relationships, identity, and addiction. Ultimately, it's a tale of self-discovery and finding happiness and acceptance by overcoming his inner demons.

New Republic Pictures, Marv Films,
Rocket Pictures; Paramount Pictures

Love is a burning thing.

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, McGhee Monteith, Dallas Roberts, Dan John Miller, Larry Bagby, Shelby Lynne, Tyler Hilton, Waylon Payne, Shooter Jennings

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"My Daddy's right. It should have been me on that saw. Jack was so good. He would have done so many good things. What have I done? Just hurt everybody I know. I know I've hurt you. I'm nothin'." – Johnny Cash

Why watch this? This amazing, heart-rending film takes us on the road with a legend.

Plot Summary: This biographical drama explores the life of country music icon Johnny Cash, from his humble beginnings in rural Arkansas to his explosive rise to fame. As his career takes off, his personal life begins to unravel due to his struggles with substance abuse and the breakdown of his first marriage. Ultimately, his tempestuous romance and musical collaboration with fellow singer June Carter become the driving force behind his personal redemption and legendary success.
 

Dad's Preview: I am a Johnny Cash fan, not because I grew up with him, but through discovery in my thirties. There is an Americana honesty that he brings like no other. His five American series albums, which he recorded late in his life, are must-haves if you like music. This is the telling of his hard-scrapple Arkansas roots, his rise to fame, and the hard road to get to the only woman he ever loved. This man lived a life worth hearing about. Joaquin Phoenix's performance is so damn good. The only better performance is that of Reese Witherspoon as June Carter. She is incredible, as the feisty, funny and angelic Miss Carter; and she deservedly won the Best Actress Oscar. They both did all the musical work including the vocals. Wow. When the final credits rolled, I felt like I had experienced their tumultuous lives, and now I more clearly understood the man in black.

Fox 2000 Pictures; 20th Century Fox

Robert Duvall is Mac Sledge, His fight for respect was just beginning.

Starring: Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Betty Buckley, Wilford Brimley, Ellen Barkin, Allan Hubbard, Lenny von Dohlen, Paul Gleason

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Is there a reason that happened? And Sonny's daddy died in the war, my daughter killed in an automobile accident. Why? See, I don't trust happiness. I never did, I never will." - Mac Sledge

Why watch this? Duvall finally gets an Oscar for this bittersweet tale of redemption.

Plot Summary: Mac Sledge is a washed-up, alcoholic country singer at rock bottom, who finds himself working off a debt at a run-down Texas motel. He builds a new life with the motel's widowed owner, Rosa Lee, and her son, but his past soon comes calling, threatening to unravel his newfound stability. Mac is then forced to confront his demons and choose between the life he once had and new life he's acquired.

EMI Films, Antron Media; Universal Pics,
Associated Film Dist. Corp.

The road to greatness can take you to the edge

Starring: Miles Teller, J. K. Simmons, Melisssa Benoist, Paul Reiser, Austin Stowell, Nate Lang, Chris Mulkey, Damon Gupton, Suanne Spoke, Max Kasch

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I was there to push people beyond what's expected of them. I believe that is... an absolute necessity. Otherwise, we're depriving the world of the next Louis Armstrong. The next Charlie Parker." – Terence Fletcher

Why watch this? How many roads are there to perfection? What is the cost to bring it out?

Plot Summary: College student and drummer Andrew Neiman desires to be the best, like Buddy Rich-best. Shaffer Conservatory in NYC is prestigious and Andrew is recruited into a Studio jazz ensemble. On the path to core drummer, he (an many players) must endure harsh verbal and physical abuse at the hands of the conductor, Terence Fletcher. It quickly becomes a test of wills pitting the boy's determination to be great against a teacher's unreasonable requirements for perfection.

Bold Films, Blumhouse Prod., Right of
Way Films; Sony Pictures Classics

First dance. First love. The time of your life.

Starring: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes, Jack Weston, Jane Brucker, Jack Weston, Lonny Price

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Nobody puts Baby in a corner." - Johnny

Why watch this? A great coming-of-age story centered on summer camp and dancing.

Plot Summary: Frances "Baby" Houseman is a young woman vacationing with her family at a Catskills resort in the summer of 1963. There, she becomes infatuated with Johnny Castle, the resort's dance instructor. As Baby steps in to help Johnny with a performance, their relationship deepens, exploring themes of love, class differences, and personal growth.

Great American Films, Limited Partnership;
Vestron Pictures

To Walt Disney, "Mary Poppins" was more than a book. To her, it was more than a movie.

Starring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, B. J. Novak, Bradley Whitford, Colin Farrell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I love my life, I think it's a miracle. And I loved my dad. He was a wonderful man. But rare is the day when I don't think about that eight-year-old boy delivering newspapers in the snow and old Elias Disney with that strap in his fist." – Walt Disney

Why watch this? Emma Thompson's steely performance is truly remarkable.

Plot Summary: Based on a true story, the film follows the author P.L. Travers as she reluctantly travels to Los Angeles in 1961 to meet with Walt Disney to discuss adapting her book Mary Poppins into a film. She proves to be a demanding and uncompromising individual, fiercely protective of her beloved story and characters. As the Disney team attempts to bring the whimsical world of Mary Poppins to the screen, flashbacks to Travers's childhood reveal the personal origins and deep significance of her creation.

Ruby Films, Essential Media and Ent., BBC Films,
Hopscotch Fea.; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pics

There Has Never Been A Motion Picture Like... The Red Shoes

Starring: Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Robert Helpmann, Léonide Massine, Albert Bassermann, Ludmilla Tchérina, Esmond Knight, Austin Trevor, Irene Browne, Hay Petrie

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You cannot have it both ways. A dancer who relies upon the doubtful comforts of human love can never be a great dancer. Never." – Boris Lermontov

Why watch this? It really is a work of dance art that overwhelms the senses.

Plot Summary: In South France, a driven young ballerina must choose between her intense ambition to become a great dancer and the love of a composer who wants her to lead a more balanced life. Her demanding instructor, obsessed with the belief that a dancer can have no other life than art, pushes her to an emotional breaking point. This psychological conflict unfolds as she dances the lead in a new ballet production called "The Red Shoes."

Powell and Pressburger, The Archers;
General Film Distributors

Inspired by a True Friendship

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Maniscalco, Dimiter D. Marinov, Mike Hatton, P.J. Byrne, Von Lewis

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"So if I'm not black enough and if I'm not white enough, and not man enough, then tell me, Tony, what am I?" - Dr. Don Shirley

Why watch this? In a country divided by race, we just need to rub elbows to find our common ground.

Plot Summary: In 1962, a working-class Italian-American bouncer named Tony "Lip" Vallelonga is hired to drive renowned African-American classical pianist Don Shirley on a concert tour through the Deep South. Facing widespread racial segregation and prejudice, they must rely on "The Negro Motorist Green Book" to navigate safe havens for Black travelers. Despite their vastly different backgrounds and personalities, the two men form an unlikely bond and friendship as they confront adversity and learn from each other during their journey.

Participant Media, DreamWorks Pics, Innisfee Pics,
Cinetic Media, Alibaba Pics; Universal Pictures

The greatest adventure of all is finding our place in the circle of life.

Starring: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Moira Kelly, Ernie Sabella, Nathan Lane, Robert Guillaume, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life." - Mufasa

Why watch this? ... It is one of the best of the 90's Disney classics.

Plot Summary: A young lion cub, Simba, is destined to rule the Pride Lands, but his bitter uncle, Scar, plots against him and his father, King Mufasa. Simba is led to believe he is responsible for his father's death and flees into exile, where he befriends Timon and Pumbaa. Years later, his past returns to haunt him, and he must decide whether to reclaim his rightful place and face his demons.

Walt Disney Feature Animation;
Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

The Happiest Sound In All The World!

Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood, Charmian Carr, Eleanor Parker, Angela Cartwright, Ben Wright

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I can't seem to stop singing wherever I am. And what's worse, I can't seem to stop saying things - anything and everything I think and feel." - Maria

Why watch this? It is deservedly the standard by which all family musicals are measured.

Plot Summary: Set in Austria on the cusp of World War II, a high-spirited young woman named Maria, considering a life as a nun, is sent to be a governess to the seven children of the widowed and strict Captain Georg von Trapp. Maria's love for music and kind nature gradually bring joy and warmth back into the children's lives, and eventually the Captain's as well.

Argyle Enterprises, Inc.; 20th Century Fox

Almost Famous (2000), Director: Cameron Crowe, rated PG-13 for language, sexual situations

Stillwater Runs Deep!

Starring: Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Jason Lee, Frances McDormand, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk, Philip S. Hoffman, Zooey Deschanel

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #31 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Almost Famous

"Aw, man. You made friends with them. See, friendship is the booze they feed you. They want you to get drunk on feeling like you belong." - Lester Bangs

Why watch this? It's the swan song about rock and rock in my era, you know, the awesome 70's!

Plot Summary: William Miller, at 15-years-old, is an aspiring journalist who gets a dream assignment: to write a cover story for Rolling Stone magazine. He embarks on a tour leg with the up-and-coming rock band Stillwater, experiencing the highs and lows of life on the road. William navigates the world of rock and roll, forming relationships with the band members and a groupie named Penny Lane, all while trying to maintain his journalistic integrity.

DreamWorks Pics, Columbia Pics, Vinyl Films;
DreamWorks Dist. LLC

The man. The music. The movie.

Starring: Prince, Apollonia Kotero, Morris Day, Olga Karlatos, Clarence Williams III, Jerome Benton, Billy Sparks, Jill Jones, Wendy Melvion, Lisa Coleman, The Revolution, The Time, Appolonia 6

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 100 #99 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Purple Rain

"I can make you happy. If you just believed in me." - Francis L.

Why watch this? One of the best movies ever about an artist and his band.

Plot Summary: A talented but troubled musician, known as The Kid, struggles with a difficult home life and intense rivalries with other performers in the Minneapolis club scene. He attempts to forge a career with his band, The Revolution, while navigating a complex romance with an aspiring singer named Apollonia. The story explores The Kid's artistic journey as he confronts his personal demons, deals with a rival band, and learns to collaborate with his own band members.

Purple Films; Warner Bros.

Amadeus (1984), Director: Miloš Forman, rated PG for some sensuality, crudeness

The man... The music... The madness... The murder... The motion picture...

Starring: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow, Roy Dotrice, Simon Callow, Christine Ebersole, Jeffrey Jones, Charles Kay

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"That was Mozart. That! That giggling dirty-minded creature I had just seen, crawling on the floor!" - Antonio Salieri

Why watch this? Well, 8 Oscars is why - plus it IS a brilliant, exceptional film.

Plot Summary: Mozart is blessed with natural musical ability. Though a musical genius, he is outwardly childish and crass. That is until he thinks of his father, a stern man who was constantly disappointed in his son. Juxtapose Mozart to Salieri, a reserved man plays by the rules. He's true to his craft, loyal to his employers, and faithful to God, yet always denied greatness. In his anger, Salieri, forsakes God and becomes obsessed with destroying the young composer.

The Saul Zaentz Co.; Orion Pictures