As a longtime music enthusiast and a dedicated fan of many iconic artists, I’ve had the privilege (and sometimes the pain) of watching numerous biopics that attempt to capture the essence of these extraordinary individuals. From my perspective, none have left me more underwhelmed than the recent spate of films about musical legends.
This piece was originally published on May 18. We have updated it to include A Complete Unknown.
Musical biopics often share a common pattern: A gifted and unique artist, who is too innocent for this world, aspires to create but gets ensnared by fame, drugs, and an industry that exploits them, without any real introspection or critique. Since 2018, when the controversial music biopic Bohemian Rhapsody won several Oscars, Hollywood has shown a renewed fascination with these films. (Upcoming projects on Bruce Springsteen and Linda Ronstadt are in development.) The newest addition to this problematic genre is the Bob Dylan biopic titled A Complete Unknown. In an attempt to “honor” this trend, we’re ranking the recent musical-biopic canon from the least bad to the even more subpar.
The Best of the Worst ➥ The Worst of the Worst
13.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)
Disregarding conventional biopic elements such as facts and seriousness, this movie playfully portrays the life story of the parody artist using a parody film format. Daniel Radcliffe hilariously mimics dramatic actor transformations while delivering an authentic portrayal. However, at times it feels like a tribute band of the movie “Walk Hard.
12.
A Complete Unknown (2024)
James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic, titled “Timmothee Chalamet’s Portrayal of a Future Oscar Nominee,” offers a charming portrayal of 1960s Greenwich Village. The film captures a warm, rustic essence, and Timothée Chalamet convincingly emulates Dylan’s distinctive nasal voice while performing well-known tunes. The omnipresent smoking adds a cinematic allure for both actors and cameramen.
11.
Rocketman (2019)
At its peak, the movie Rocketman shines particularly brightly, such as when Taron Egerton soars into the sky from Dodger Stadium like a real-life rocket man just moments after an overdose – this is as absurdly captivating as Elton John himself. Regrettably, these exceptional instances are scarce and sparse throughout the film, preventing it from reaching its full potential. The character development is mainly superficial, and the narrative swiftly covers typical biopic milestones.
10.
Aline (2021)
After you get accustomed to the surprising sight of Valérie Lemercier, a grown woman, portraying a 5-year-old girl, this unauthorized Céline Dion biopic offers a captivating summary of the singer’s extraordinary talent and journey. If more biopics were less constrained by legal restrictions, good taste, and factual accuracy, they could potentially produce more intriguing films. But remember, I enjoyed Cats, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
9.
Judy (2019)
Finding an opportunity for Renée Zellweger to don a glamorous gown and belt out tunes once more is always welcome in my opinion, even if the film “Judy” becomes overly sentimental and sluggish. Zellweger’s portrayal of Judy Garland is heavily stylized, showcasing a legend trapped within her own lifetime. Although this movie avoids many conventional narrative elements, it seems to lack momentum.
8.
Elvis (2022)
Without a doubt, Baz Luhrmann’s grandiose production is captivating. Austin Butler’s portrayal of Elvis is so convincing that it seems like the spirit of Elvis himself could have been guiding his voice. There are thrilling scenes throughout, such as when Elvis charms a multitude of women, but the film tends to drag on, making it challenging to label Tom Hanks’ performance as Elvis’s manager exceptional, despite his dedicated efforts.
7.
Maestro (2023)
Following the awards season of the movie “Maestro”, isn’t it clear now what we are dealing with? A film project that is primarily fueled by director-actor Bradley Cooper’s ambition to win an Oscar. Despite being bizarre at times, it manages to be more captivating than one might expect, making it hard to look away. For instance, watch the moments where Cooper yells “I’m holding back!” as if he were a villain in a horror movie.
6.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)
Look, this Lee Daniels movie is a mess, but it’s a well-acted mess. Andra Day’s fierce and raw lead performance is compelling enough to make the movie worth watching even when the watching is rough. But the film still has an unfortunate American Horror Story pallor, one that’s compounded by Daniels’s dull and fragmented pacing.
5.
Respect (2021)
A movie that has Jennifer Hudson singing a slew of Aretha Franklin songs can only be so bad. Plus you’ve got Mary J. Blige flipping tables and shouting as Dinah Washington — what more could you ask for? Well, maybe a little more story, actually. Respect is slightly too deferential to Franklin, never allowing Hudson’s Aretha to appear as anything less than a saint. Boring.
4.
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (2022)
Naomi Ackie delivers an impressive performance mimicking Houston’s vocals. However, the portrayal follows typical biopic tropes: Whitney and her companion Robyn Crawford reacting enthusiastically when they first hear her song on the radio, drug abuse resulting in a moment of disorientation amidst excited crowds and flashbulbs, dramatic scenes of sobriety followed by a relapse. Notably, the script was also penned by Anthony McCarten.
3.
Bob Marley: One Love (2024)
This film isn’t for those intrigued by Marley’s life or political views; instead, it caters to fans who recognize Marley from college dorm posters. Essentially, it’s a fan-created production that shies away from exploring Marley as a complex, genuine individual. The portrayal of his relationship with Rita, his wife, is notably shallow, mirroring the approach often taken in biopics featuring male leads.
2.
Back to Black (2024)
Marisa Abela, brilliantly portraying Yasmin in the series “Industry“, adopts a lively “Oy, mista!” persona to embody an iconic figure from the 2000s, whose life was possibly overshadowed by relentless media scrutiny. The film seems overzealous in depicting her as innocent (doted on her grandmother, committed in relationships, aspiring parent), which makes her rebellious side and mischievous humor appear insincere.
1.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
This manic Freddie Mercury biopic is easy to hate for many reasons: its unearned Oscar wins; the direction by Bryan Singer, who got Me Too’d before the film came out; the fact that it is a straight-seeming biopic of Freddie Mercury. Bohemian Rhapsody is like the bland-cover version of Freddie’s life; its creators forgot that he was actually very interesting (and super-gay).
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2024-12-26 15:54