In this gentle French drama from first-time director Christophe Barratier, music teacher Clement Mathieu (Gerard Jugnot) lands a job at a boys' boarding school populated by delinquents and orphans -- and run by a martinet headmaster (Francois Berleand). Sensing potential in the rambunctious ruffians, Mathieu forms a choir to rein in his charges through the transforming power of song … even at the probable cost of his career.
After a botched sex-change operation, East German glam rocker Hansel (John Cameron Mitchell) becomes Hedwig and travels across the United States with a stage show, following her ex-boyfriend (and former band mate) and telling her life story.
Hedwig's offbeat show slays audiences -- but in diners not clubs. Mitchell also wrote and directed the comedy, which won at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for several Independent Spirit Awards.
Eccentric candy man Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) prompts a frenzy when he announces that five golden tickets hidden inside his candy bars will get their holders into his top-secret factory.
Amidst a world of Oompa Loompas and chocolate rivers, young Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) and Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson) get caught in the middle of Wonka's secret agenda in director Mel Stuart's Oscar-nominated fantasy based on Roald Dahl's award-winning book.
New York City advertising executive Darrin Fox (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is summoned back to his Georgia hometown to collect a large inheritance after his wealthy aunt dies.
But there's one catch: He has to form a successful gospel choir before he can receive the money. In the meantime, Darrin rekindles a friendship with a childhood friend (Beyoncé Knowles) who might be the secret to the championship choir he's trying to build.
This is the story of two best friends who used to be groupies, collectively known by the suggestive nickname "The Banger Sisters.
" Reuniting decades later, one is now a "punked-out" waitress (Goldie Hawn) in Los Angeles who's nostalgic about the old days; the other is a Phoenix socialite (Susan Sarandon) who would rather hide the past. The cast also includes Geoffrey Rush, Eva Amurri and Erika Christensen.
Aishwarya Rai, Martin Henderson and Anupam Kher star in this joyous musical about the Bakhsi family, who's celebrating the arrival of a British-born man, Mr.
Balraj, who may be perfect husband material for one the Bakhsis' four unmarried daughters -- Maya, Lucky, Jaya and, most especially, their eldest, Lalita (Rai). But Lalita refuses to marry someone handpicked for her, believing instead in true love, which just may be waiting in the wings.
Honey (Jessica Alba), a tough, sexy dancer from the inner city, becomes a successful music video choreographer, but her career is threatened when her mentor blackmails her into the following choice: either sleep with him .
.. or be blackballed.
Honey ultimately decides to pursue her lifelong dream of opening her own dance studio for inner-city youths. Mekhi Phifer and Lil' Romeo co-star.
Satirist in extremis Christopher Guest aims his mockumentary lens at 1960s folk musicians -- specifically, the earnest Folksmen (portrayed by erstwhile Spinal Tappers Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer), the too-perky New Main Street Singers and former lovebirds Mitch Mickey.
As the three acts prepare to reunite for a tribute concert, music and emotions run high. A parody in the tradition of Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman.
The people of Detroit know 8 Mile as the city limit, a border, a boundary.
It is also a psychological dividing line that separates Jimmy Smith Jr. from where and who he wants to be. A provocative fictional examination of a critical week in Jimmy's life, 8 Mile stars multi-platinum recording artist Eminem in his first feature-film leading role, along with Kim Basinger (as Jimmy's mother), Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy and Eugene Byrd.
Three convicts (George Clooney, John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson) break out of jail during the 1920s with an eye toward retrieving a cache of hidden money. Along the way, they fast-talk their way out of jams, sidestep alluring riverside sirens and record a hit country song. O Brother is a rollicking romp in the tradition of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby's "road" pictures.
Kevin Kline plays talented and celebrated composer Cole Porter, who penned many hits, including "Anything Goes," "Night and Day" and the delightful "It's De-Lovely," which inspired the movie's title. As seen through the eyes of Porter himself, his life is told like one of his musicals, replete with drama, suspense and joy, at the center of which is his mercurial relationship with his wife, Linda (Ashley Judd).
Naïve young poet Ewan McGregor falls in love with cabaret star Nicole Kidman, and their ill-fated romance serves as a convenient peg on which to hang a dazzling array of numbers that span musical idioms (from snatches of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The Sound of Music" to Madonna's "Like a Virgin").
But the real star of the show is director Baz Luhrmann, who came up with this infectious concoction.
Members of the original 1996 Broadway cast star in Chris Columbus's adaptation of the award-winning musical set in New York's East Village. Based on Puccini's "La Boheme," the story follows a group of bohemians through life's ups and down as they face true love, broken hearts, HIV, drug addiction … and of course, paying the rent.
Rosario Dawson, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Jesse L. Martin, Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel and Wilson Jermaine Heredia star.
Terrence Dashon Howard turns in a true star performance in director Craig Brewer's indie drama.
DJay (Howard) is a pimp with aspirations of grandeur -- he wants to make it as a rapper -- but he soon discovers that fame isn't all it's cracked up to be. Offering strong characters and notes of sweet romance amid the urban beats of its central plot, this 2005 Sundance Audience Award-winner was produced by John Singleton.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's stunning musical comes alive on-screen in this Joel Schumacher rendition.
A talented recluse (Gerard Butler) disfigured in a tragic accident roams beneath the Paris Opera. Fueled with resentment, he terrorizes other musicians until he falls for the lovely Christine (Emmy Rossum), a formidable singer whom he takes under his wing, molding her so she can become the sensational soprano he envisions her to be.
Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) hungers for stardom, but instead ends up in the slammer in 2002's Best Picture winner.
Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is a superstar whose fame flares -- then dims -- when she shoots her cheating husband and lands in jail. When Velma's lawyer, notorious Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), makes Roxie a tabloid sensation, he sets up a singing, dancing catfight between the two ambitious women. Based on the Broadway musical.
Among the pantheon of great country singers, Johnny Cash (played here by Joaquin Phoenix) may just be the most enigmatic. James Mangold's film distills Cash's transformation from man to icon -- from his hardscrabble days on an Arkansas farm to Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn., where Cash finally found a way for his talent to come into its own.
Reese Witherspoon plays his beloved June, alongside co-stars Robert Patrick and Shelby Lynne.
This biopic tells the life story of rhythm and blues legend Ray Charles (Jamie Foxx, who won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal). Born to a poor family in Albany, Ga.
, Charles contracted glaucoma at age 6 (which robbed him of his eyesight) and nonetheless went on to become a world-famous pianist and performer. He dealt with racism, romantic letdowns and his own heroin abuse, but managed to triumph over all obstacles. Taylor Hackford directs.
Julie Andrews made her screen debut and won an Oscar for her portrayal of the "practically perfect" nanny who revolutionizes the prim and proper Banks family. Dick van Dyke's unforgettable rendition of "Chim Chim Cheree" won an Oscar for best song (he's also great in the dual role of chimney sweep Bert and crotchety bank chairman Mr. Dawes Sr.
), and Richard and Roger Sherman netted an Oscar for best score. It's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
The hills are alive with the sound of singing siblings and nuns!
In Rodgers and Hammerstein's greatest collaboration, a feisty postulant named Maria (Julie Andrews) is sent to care for the unruly, motherless Von Trapp children. She soon tames them -- and finds herself falling for their stern father (Christopher Plummer). Oscar-winning director Robert Wise used stunning Austrian locations to transform the stage musical into a cinema classic.
Brad (Jamie Kennedy) is a rap star wanna-be who hails from Malibu but acts and talks as if he's from the 'hood. Problem is, Brad's uptight Republican dad (Ryan O'Neal) is running for governor of California and is worried that his son will embarrass him during the campaign. Enter two Juilliard-trained actors (Taye Diggs and Anthony Anderson), who disguise themselves as "real-life gangstas," kidnap Brad and try to scare the ghetto out of him.
Documentarians Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky had unprecedented access to Metallica while the rockers recorded their 2003 album, "St. Anger." And the filmmakers were in the right place at the right (or perhaps wrong) time when lead singer James Hetfield spent five months in rehab.
They also recorded the fallout when bassist Jason Newstad was replaced with Robert Trujillo and were on hand during the group's no-holds-barred therapy sessions.
It's all about the Benjamins … and respect. But if you've got the moves, anything's possible!
Elgin (Marques Houston of IMX) and David (Omarion of B2K) are best buddies and leaders of the best street dance crew in the area. But when another top group challenges them to a battle, David and Elgin, along with their friends (Raz B, J Boog and Lil' Fizz), must create the "flyest" moves to retain their "cred."
Returning to his father's church after turning his back on God, a young singer (Boris Kodjoe) makes an unpleasant discovery: His childhood nemesis (Idris Elba) has a "new vision" for the congregation.
Writer-director Rob Hardy helms this inspiring drama based on the biblical parable of "The Prodigal Son" featuring the music of Yolanda Adams, Martha Munizzi, Delores "Mom" Winans and "American Idol" finalist Tamyra Gray.
In this hysterical farce, rapacious but lovable producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) hasn't had a hit in years. Quite by accident, he and his meek, neurotic accountant, Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder), come up with a plot to oversell shares in a surefire flop musical and make off with the profits -- using the worst play ever written, "Springtime for Hitler.
" Inspired, manic performances and Brooks's lively direction make The Producers a true gem.
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