All my life there have been films about great biographies. While it’s true that there weren’t too many pop idols in the 20th century, the industry has found a goldmine in the 21st.

I wouldn’t call it “biographical” as the non-documentary biographical genre is being called lately, but it’s true that “What a night on that day!” The Beatles, it was about them. And it was launched in 1964. Four years later, “Yellow Submarine” continued the saga of two, but in a completely psychedelic way.

In the 70s and 80s, there weren’t many films about people of music, with the exception of a very curious experiment in 1986 with Vicious and the birth of a punk called “Sid and Nancy” with an unleashed Gary Oldman who completely believed in the role.

Another 70s exception was the vocals on “Lady Sings the Blues”, here (sic) called “The Twilight of a Star”, where Billie Holiday played the whole Diana Ross, no less.

The 80s ended with a “biopic” about the recently deceased Jerry Lee Lewis and his “Great Ball of Fire” scandals.

Perhaps these decades were too marked by the great musical milestones of Saturday Night Fever, Grease and even Xanadu. But returning to the “biopics”, some came from the 90s. The decade kicked off with Val Kilmer’s superb performance as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors.

Already in 1993, one of the most turbulent lives of all the stars, who shine, despite their past, in the musical firmament, is given a place. Tina didn’t become the box office success that Anna May Bullock deserved.

A rare bird that made its way in the late 90s, Velvet Goldmine is a film that tells the fictional life story of rock star Brian Slade, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. The film stars Ewan McGregor, Toni Collette, Christian Bale and Eddie Izzard and is based on the lives of David Bowie and Iggy Pop, among other 70s glam artists. The plot focuses on the rise and fall of Brian Slade. , and the film boasts a brilliantly androgynous atmosphere, gripping plot, and quotes from Oscar Wilde. The soundtrack features music from the likes of T. Rex, Roxy Music, New York Dolls and Lou Reed and is the perfect guide for those who want to explore the music of the period. Value.

The 2000s rolled around and Ray Charles was deeply impressed by the way he was portrayed in Ray (2004).

In 2005, Gus Van Sant tackled the controversial life of Kurt Cobain’s final days in The Last Days.

There was no shortage of documentaries, but by focusing on staged biopics, Clint Eastwood didn’t want to miss the opportunity to make his own film about the life of Charlie “Bird” Parker. The Bird follows the life of Charlie Parker, a jazz genius known for his alto saxophone virtuosity and bebop pioneer. The film focuses on his struggles with illness, drug and alcoholism, and his suicide attempt in 1954, interspersed with flashbacks reconstructing his troubled biography. This film is a masterpiece directed by a Hollywood tough guy who is a big fan of jazz and features a superb performance by Forest Whitaker as Charlie Parker and Diane Venora as his wife. A film for lovers of jazz and high-class cinema.

In 2007, La Vie en Rose is a biopic directed by Olivier Dahan about the life of Edith Piaf, the legendary French singer. The film explores Piaf’s life, from her childhood in a brothel to her success as a music star in the 1950s. Marion Cotillard’s performance as Edith Piaf is the highlight of the film, while director Oliver Dahan emphasized your willpower as the key to your success. . The film features an effective re-enactment of the period and original songs by Edith Piaf.

And we come to the big blockbusters led by Bohemian Rhapsody. A milestone already in this decade. The biopic of Freddie Mercury and Queen covers the period from the 1970s to Live Aid 1985. Great ending. Freddie is the core of the plot. We see Freddie’s loneliness and unhappiness as he distances himself from his loved ones. Rami Malek as Freddie is remarkable, and on stage he got used to the role of Freddie Mercury himself. No doubt the film is musically amazing and manages to bring the excitement of Queen’s concerts to the movies.

He was followed by Rocketman, that is, Rocket Man, commonly known as Elton John. We take a look at his career and personal life, starting with his participation in a Narcotics Anonymous session. Yes, there are lights and shadows of his life, including his childhood, his musical talent, his relationship with Bernie Taupin, his marriage to Renat Blauel, and his homosexual relationship with John Reed. Directed and written by Leigh Hall, Dexter Fletcher brings the necessary sincerity to Elton John’s life while not forgetting his struggles with insecurities and addictions. There are fantastic musical scenes illustrating the most important moments of his life.

Elvis is the international star with the most biopics. Already in 1979, Elvis Lives was launched on television, directed by John Carpenter, in which Kurt Russell played a man from Tupelo. And I was not mistaken:

And the beginning of his fame is already very well shown in the 2005 film Elvis: The Beginning.

However, the recent (2022) version of the life of the King of Rock directed by Baz Luhrmann came as a real surprise. The film focuses on the relationship between Elvis and his manager Tom Parker, offering an episodic look at Elvis’ career rather than the typical full biography. Its frenetic visual pacing and impactful staging are impressive, though many of us are missing a bit more dramatic development.

And we come to what will be the surprise of 2024, along with the film Amy Winehouse, which is currently filming in London. In the midst of the biopic era, not much is known about the king of pop: he’s a much more controversial and problematic figure than any of his pop peers, and it seems like a much more complex undertaking.

He’s already making news before he hits the screens. Title, minimalist: Michael. Antoine Fuqua is directing Jaafar Jackson, the artist’s nephew and son of Jermaine Jackson, also a member of the Jackson 5. The young man doesn’t have much acting experience and will have to demonstrate great talent in singing and dancing. Let’s see. Well, let’s see.