The Kenblog: My Favorite Movie Musicals!

Number 5 – The Blues Brothers – 1980 –

This gem from John Landis is not a traditional musical, but the music is almost as legendary as the extra long car chase finale. With guest appearances from such legends as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, and others along with John Belushi and Dan Akroyd giving as much effort to their music as to their comedy, this one easily qualifies for my list.

Number 4 – The Wizard Of Oz –

Now this 1939 classic is considered number one (or close to it) by nearly everyone, and although I’m something of a non-traditionalist here this film definitely makes the list. The story, the sets, the musical numbers are all stuff of legend as is the story of the making of the film. This is one of those films that is so good that it’s one that Hollywood should never even think of trying to remake.

Number 3 – La Bamba – 1987

This is one of my personal favorites mainly because it took the awful taste of “Dirty Dancing” out of my mouth. Just kidding of course (but not entirely) but this biopic of Ritchie Valens, the talented young musician who died at the age of 17 in the 1959 plane crash that also took the lives of Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper, is notable for the powerhouse performance of young Lou Diamond Phillips. Phillips totally embodies Valens and the film’s musical numbers are dynamite, particularly during the concert that takes place near the end of the film. Highly underrated biopic that pairs fantastically with Gary Busey’s “The Buddy Holly Story” (1978)

Number 2 – Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street – (2007)

If you’re both a horror film and musical fan, then Tim Burton’s Adaptation of the famous stage musical is right up your alley. Burton and this material were made for each other, with Burton turning Steven Sondheim’s work into something straight out of a musical Hammer horror classic. Alan Rickman has never been more deliciously villainous and Johnny Depp had not yet become a parody of himself. The songs are well done and the gore is done on a level I usually associate with adult anime, and that’s a good thing. Just don’t see it if you have a week stomach.

Number 1 – Little Shop Of Horrors – (1986)

This remake of the 1960 Roger Corman film keeps the campy horror and turns it into a full blown musical. It’s proof the Frank Oz is a genius filmmaker and not just the voice of Yoda. The songs are all catchy and the performances by Rick Moranis, Ellen Green, and especially Steve Martin as a sadistic dentist are all spot on. (Can’t forget Bill Murray as the masochistic dental patient) But the MVP is the Four Tops’ Levi Stubbs as the voice of the adult Audrey. His songs are funny, funky, and classic and he gives Audrey a personality that makes her one of the most memorable villains in screen history.

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