My faves (including my back-farting story!)
1. 'Amadeus' (Milos Forman, 1984)
A sumptuous period piece that has the feel of a thriller, "Amadeus" entertains while communicating the brilliance of Mozart. We see the story through the eyes of Salieri, the bitterly jealous court composer who can't stand buffoon-like Mozart but reveres his music. F. Murray Abraham won a much-deserved Oscar for his performance as Salieri. His contempt for Tom Hulce's Mozart is visceral throughout the film.
3. 'The Buddy Holly Story' (Steve Rash, 1978)
Gary Busey's unforgettable performance brings raw energy to "The Buddy Holly Story." He is particularly electrifying on stage, nailing country boy Holly's singing and stage style. Busey's dead-on performance, combined with classics like "Peggy Sue," "That'll Be the Day" and "Rock Around with Ollie Vee" (the movie won an Oscar for best adapted score) make it a spirited recreation of the early days of rock-and-roll.
5. 'Coal Miner's Daughter' (Michael Apted, 1980)
Overcoming adversity is a common theme in biopics, and "Coal Miner's Daughter" is no exception. Oscar-winner Sissy Spacek plays Loretta Lynn, the girl from Appalachia who beat all odds, including childhood poverty and mental collapse, to become a star at the Grand Ole Opry. The plot may sound familiar, but Spacek's performance is exceptional, and the film gets to the heart of Lynn, particularly in showing her relationship with her husband, played by Tommy Lee Jones.
9. 'Backbeat' (Iain Softley, 1994)
Iain Softley's feature stands out for its focus on the early days of The Beatles, in particular the influence of the so-called "fifth Beatle" who left the group before they made it big. "Backbeat" is pure energy, capturing the excitement of the band as they invented a whole new sound that would influence music for generations to come.
10. 'La Bamba' (Luis Valdez, 1987)
"La Bamba" tells the rags-to-riches tale of Ritchie Valens, the plantation laborer who shot to fame as a young rock-and-roll star. Valens died at the age of 17 in the same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, but despite his tragic end, the movie doesn't strike a downbeat tone. There's a tenderness and celebration of the thrill of being young and finding that the world is open to possibilities.
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