Just watched this movie, "The Thing called Love" (DVD borrowed from the library). Not a new film (1993), but worth your time to check it out. It was not a commercial success, but is a cult classic (according to the director Peter Bogdanovich who incidentally made the film "St Jack" which was banned until recently for many years in Singapore).
Synopsis
About a girl from New York who goes to Nashville in her quest to be a singer. Meets a kookie girlfriend and two boys who share the same dream of success in country music.
What's Noteworthy
Aside from intense acting from the late River Phoenix (much missed), it is very strong on the art of songwriting. Don't misunderstand; it doesn't tell you or show you how songs are written, but the effort of finding (and spouting) good lines are worked seamlessly into the script. In fact a running gag is the use of lines from actual songs on the marquee of a hotel featured in the film that adds to the mood. I've not been to Nashville, but you come away with the impression that this here is one town dripping with music like honey on a stack of pancakes (haha, my attempt at homely Southern metaphor).
Gear Spotted
Girl lead uses a Kramer Ferrington acoustic guitar, and Dermot Mulroney uses a beat-up Gibson acoustic (tobacco burst I would say).
Similar Films
Almost Famous (2000) - boy reporter tags along with a rock band and its groupies in 1973. Based on the real life experiences of the director/writer Cameron Crowe
The Thing You Do (1996) - the trials of a band trying to break into the limelight in 1964
Spinal Tap (1984) - haven't seen this, but a mockumentary of a heavy metal band apparently groundbreaking to some degree
Can you share any other films of a similar vein i.e. films that tell a (fictional) story of bands and singers (specifically NOT biopics - based on actual bands/singers like The Doors, Johnny Cash, Diana Ross, etc., and NOT musicals e.g. Chicago, Moulin Rouge, etc.)?
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