There's something about the pop-culture perfect storm embodied in biographical films about musicians that's always captivated me.
When I was in college, the Johnny Cash and Ray Charles biopics "Walk the Line" and "Ray" were released within a year of each other. Both garnered acclaim for their amazing soundtracks and stellar performances by Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon and Jamie Foxx.
Casey PhillipsTheir success set a high bar and led to a biopic flood over the last decade, including 2008's "Cadillac Records" (various Chess Records artists), 2009's "Notorious" (Notorious B.I.G.) and 2009's "Nowhere Boy" (John Lennon).
Those are just a drop in the bucket, though. Fans of music and movies have tons of biopics to choose from over the years, from those focused on classical composers such as Beethoven and Mozart ("Immortal Beloved" and "Amadeus") to rap and hip-hop artists such as N.W.A. and Eminem ("Straight Outta Compton" and "Eight Mile").
Thanks to the demands of fatherhood, I've got a huge backlog of musical biopics I've yet to see, foremost of which are the Brian Wilson biopic "Love & Mercy," "Bessie," the Queen Latifah-led HBO feature focused on the life of Chattanooga blues legend Bessie Smith and eventually Don Cheadle's turn as Miles Davis in "Miles Ahead," which is being released this spring.
Just because I've got some catching up to do doesn't mean I can't ask for more, though. Here are just a few future biopics I'd love to see:
* Freddie Mercury/Queen - Sacha Baron Cohen recently walked away from a starring role in the band biopic "Queen," but my fingers are crossed it'll still see the light of day.
* AC/DC - Specifically the transitional years after the death of founding lead singer Bon Scott, the introduction of Brian Johnson and the lead-up to the monumental success of "Back in Black."
* The Beatles - Because duh. A biopic was approved in 2014 with Ron Howard at the helm. This one seriously can't come fast enough to suit me. It doesn't even have to make it to the final rooftop concert. Just get to their final tour in 1966, and I'll be happy.
* Chet Atkins - Not only was Atkins an amazing guitarist, he was a chief engineer at RCA Records and an instrumental figure in establishing the "Nashville sound."
* Sly and The Family Stone - Just consider the storytelling potential of a biopic on an influential funk band that pioneered racial and gender integration onstage.
Are you a biopic fan? If so, which artists' careers would you love to see retold on the big screen? I've got plenty more on my list. Shoot me an email and we'll compare notes.
Contact Casey Phillips at cphillips@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6205. Follow him on Twitter at @PhillipsCTFP.