Biographic - Sunday May 24, 2009 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

Transcript

The Oscar-winning success of such recent biopics as "Ray" and "Walk the Line" has ensured a steady procession of movies inspired by the lives and times of rock legends. Projects reportedly in development include films based on the lives of such music icons as Keith Moon, Freddie Mercury, Janis Joplin, and Dusty Springfield. While the likes of 2002's "24 Hour Party People" have focused on such lesser lights as Joy Division and Happy Mondays, the majority of rock biopics have centered on megastars. Beatle tv biopics abound, and the band's formative days in Hamburg inspired 1994's well-received movie "Backbeat," Scores of actors have portrayed Elvis Presley, ranging from Kurt Russell and Don Johnson to "Tudors" star Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the 2005 tv mini-series "Elvis." White Stripes rocker Jack White spoofed "The King" in the 2007 comedy "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story." Music biopics have long been a staple of the screen, going back to the likes such post-war Oscar-winners as "The Jolson Story," and 1954's "The Glenn Miller Story," starring James Stewart as the ill-fated bandleader. Gary Busey shot to fame with his Oscar-nominated role in 1978's "The Buddy Holly Story." the tale of the rock & Roll pioneer who, like Miller, met his end in an air tragedy. The 1980s brought biopics that spanned the music spectrum, beginning with Sissy Spacek's portrayal of country singer Loretta Lynn in "Coal Miner's Daughter." "Sid and Nancy" starred Gary Oldman as doomed punk rocker Sid Vicious of The Sex Pistols, Dennis Quaid played rocker Jerry Lee Lewis in "Great Balls of Fire" and Lou Diamond Phillips starred in "La Bamba" as latino teen pop star Ritchie Valens, who perished in the same air crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. 1991's "The Doors" cast Val Kilmer as frontman Jim Morrison, and two year later, Angela Bassett earned frontman Jim Morrison, and two year later, Angela Bassett earned awards as Tina Turner in "What's Love Got To Do With It." 1997's "Selena" was a breakthrough role that earned Jennifer Lopez a golden globe. In 2004, Kevin Spacey played Bobby Darin in "Beyond The Sea" and Jamie Foxx earned an Oscar for his portrayal of Ray Charles in "Ray." The next year, Joaquin Phoenix starred as Johnny Cash, and Reece Witherspoon earned an Oscar for her portrayal of June Carter. In "Walk The Line." Following on from 2002's "24 Hour Party People" which featured the genesis of seminal U.K Indie Rockers Joy Division, 2007's "Control" starred newcomer Sam Riley as the band's troubled lead singer Ian Curtis. More recently, "Notorious" traced the short life of murdered rapper Biggie Smalls. 2007's "I Am Not There" featured six actors portraying Bob Dylan, including Richard Gere, Health Ledger, Christian Bale, and in perhaps the strangest piece of casting imaginable Cate Blanchett.

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