Music Reviews

This page contains links to my reviews of films that focus on music. The movies could be biographies of musicians or bands; examinations of particular songs or music movements; concert films; or musicals. You will also find a small selection of my reviews of musical theatre, plus my lone recent review of a live music event. (And, on a personal note, while I’m obviously passionate about film, you likely won’t find a bigger Beatles fan.)

Music Films

After So Many Days (2020; 1 star), part of the Florida Film Festival 2020 article

The Beatles: Eight Days a Week — The Touring Years (2016; 3 ¼ stars)

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018; 3 stars)

Born Into the Gig (2020; 3 stars), part of the Florida Film Festival 2020 article

Fandango at the Wall FL (2020; 2 ¾ stars), part of the Florida Film Festival 2020 article

Good Ol’ Freda (2013; 3 ½ stars)

A Hard Day’s Night (1964; 4 ½ stars)

Hava Nagila (The Movie) (2013; 3 ¼ stars), part of the Central Florida Jewish Film Festival 2013 article

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013; 4 ½ stars)

The Jazz Loft, According to W. Eugene Smith (2016; 2 ¾ stars), part of the Florida Film Festival 2016 article

Judy (2019; 2 ¾ stars), part of 2019 Fall Movie Preview article

Love & Mercy (2015; 4 stars)

Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. (2018; 1 ¾ stars), part of the 2018 South Asian Film Festival

Miss Sharon Jones! (2015; 2 ¾ stars), part of the Sarasota Film Festival 2016 article

Muscle Shoals (2013; 3 stars)

Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me ( 2017; 3 stars), part of the Central Florida Jewish Film Festival 2018 article

A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake (2002; 3 ¼ stars)

A Star Is Born (2018; 3 ½ stars)

Tiny Tim: King for a Day (2021; 3 ¾ stars), part of the Florida Film Festival 2021 article

Whiplash (2014; 3 ¼ stars)

Whitney (2018; 3 ¼ stars)

Yesterday (2019; 3 ¼ stars)

Musical Films

Aladdin (2019; 2 stars)

I Am a Knife with Legs (2014; 3 ¼ stars), part of the Florida Film Festival 2015 article

The Jungle Book (3–D version) (2016; 4 stars)

La La Land (2016; 4 ¼ stars)

The Lion King (2019; 3 ¾ stars)

 

Music TV/Web Mini-series

The Beatles: Get Back (2021; 3 ½ stars)

 

Musical Theatre

Lay, Ms. (Orlando Fringe; Orlando, Florida; 2015)

Nashville Hurricane (Orlando Fringe; Orlando, Florida; 2018)

Simpleton: The Legend of President Trump (Orlando Fringe; Orlando, Florida; 2016)

6 Guitars (Orlando Fringe; Orlando, Florida; 2015)

 

Live Music

The RedCoats at Fiddler’s Green; Winter Park, Florida; September 2016

 

Song Analysis

The eerie similarities between Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” and Bread’s “If”

 

… and check out my blog on “illustrated songs” and “soundies.”