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Six Best (and One Worst): Actors Portraying Musicians
Is that Cate Blanchett or Bob Dylan?
He was just 17, if you know what we mean (Photo: images.allmoviephoto.com)
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In Nowhere Boy, out today in limited release, Aaron Johnson portrays a young John Lennon, before he formed the Beatles or even met Ringo! The film shows Lennon’s relationship with his mother, Julia, and aunt, Mimi, and the impact they had on his first band, the Quarrymen. Plus, that Paul McCartney guy.
According to most reviews, Johnson makes a great teenage John Lennon, joining a long list of actors and actresses who have accurately portrayed famous musicians. Below are the six best (and the one worst)
#6. Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett, The Runaways
When we saw Joan Jett and the Black Hearts at Virgin Mobile FreeFest, we became even more convinced that Stewart did a great job portraying the “Bad Reputation” singer, especially getting the swagger and way Jett holds her guitar right—and this coming from the publication that coined the “Bella Swan Syndrome” term.
#5. Sissy Spacek as Loretta Lynn, The Coal Miner’s Daughter
When you’re personally picked by a musician to play them in a major motion picture, you can’t say no, can you? Seriously, can you? Anyways, Lynn chose Spacek, based only on photographs of the actress at first, but Spacek would go on to impress the real life coal miner’s daughter, along with her “father,” Levon Helm, formerly of the Band.
#4. Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles, Ray
If we’re talking about actors playing blind African-American pianists, I actually think Eddie Murphy made a better Stevie Wonder than Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles. And that’s less about Foxx’s acting skills (notice he’s pretty high on this list) and more to do with Murphy’s incredible impersonation abilities. Alas, Murphy was on TV, so Foxx gets the nod, but he is quite incredible as Charles, who gave his blessing to the film’s script. One interesting note: Foxx is only one of four people who have both won an Academy Award and had a number one album. The other three: Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Barbra Streisand.
#3. Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan, I’m Not There
In a cast full of Bob Dylan’s, including Christian Bale, Heath Ledger and Ben Whishaw (let’s not talk about Richard Gere’s pointless plot, shall we?), it’s a 40-year-old Australian woman who makes the best one. She’s got the attitude, the cigarette-holding skills and the hair, which is the most important part of being in the music business anyways. Just ask Phil Spector.
#2. Sam Riley as Ian Curtis, Control
Before playing the doomed frontman of Joy Division, Riley had appeared in…well, nothing. His scene from 24 Hour Party People, in which he portrayed the Fall’s Mark E. Smith, didn’t make the final cut, which is a shame because a) The Fall are awesome, and b) he’s really good as Ian Curtis (he won the “Most Promising Newcomer” award at the British Independent Film Awards). Fittingly, Riley began dating and eventually married the woman who played Annik Honoré, Alexandra Maria Lara. Next up for Riley: Sal Paradise in On the Road.
#1. Gary Busey as Buddy Holly, The Buddy Holly Story
Ten years before the motorcycle accident that made him batshit crazy, Busey was actually an extremely talented actor. In The Buddy Holly Story, Busey plays the bespectacled Buddy, and while the film itself isn’t great, Busey is incredibly convincing, even managing to look like the musician. He was nominated for an Oscar for his role in the movie (do they even allow Busey within 500 feet of the Academy Awards anymore?). Watch this clip of Busey singing “Oh, Boy,” “It’s So Easy” and “Rave On” and you just might forget that Busey is literally insane, for a second at least.
Speaking of insane…here’s the worst portrayal we’ve seen:
Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison, The Doors
A pre-meta Val Kilmer (see: MacGruber) playing one of rock’s most annoying people directed by one of film’s most annoying directors. Not even that elevator scene—or the fact that they actually do look alike— can save this trainwreck.