6 Films for Music Lovers Coming Out in 2020

Concerts aren’t the only way to get out of the house and see some great music.

Written by Selome Hailu

2019 was a showstopping year for music buffs in the movie theater. “Rocketman” drew on ‘70s nostalgia to recount Elton John’s rise to pop stardom. Emile Mosseri composed the rich, immersive score of “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” which got almost as much attention as the movie itself. And who could forget the fever dream that was “Cats”?

As 2020 begins and award season wraps up, it’s time to get excited about a whole new year of music-related documentaries, biopics, comedies, and more.

For the music historians and journalists:

If you’re the type to read the “Personal Life” section on Wikipedia for every artist on your playlists, these movies are for you. These biopics and documentaries tell the stories of the people behind some of the greatest hits of all time.

“Respect” — dir. Liesl Tommy

Photo courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

Jennifer Hudson steps into the shoes of the late Aretha Franklin in this biopic. As of now, the studio has only released a 38-second teaser, featuring Hudson backlit by stage lights in a glittery gold gown, belting the opening to Franklin’s greatest hit, “Respect.” So far, there are no other hints about what stories the film might tell, but Hudson’s co-stars include Mary J. Blige, Forest Whitaker, and Marlon Wayans, who are sure to help give the Motown legend the tribute and spectacle she deserves.

“Respect” is set to hit theaters on Oct. 9, just a little over two years after Franklin’s death in the summer of 2018.

“Miss Americana” — dir. Lana Wilson

Taylor Swift is one of the music industry’s most loved and hated artists, and that reputation isn’t created without a story. The pop star has released several concert films from her previous tours, but this will be the first documentary following the journey she’s made as a songwriter and public figure over the years. Swift has been in the news recently for a controversy about her old label, Big Machine Records, withholding the rights to use music from her first six albums in the movie. But after publicly calling out Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun of Big Machine, she received the clearance she needs to give “Miss Americana” her full range of sound, from her country beginnings to the pop tracks she’s known for today.

“Miss Americana” premieres at Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 23 and will be available on Netflix sometime later this year.

Honorable mentions: “Blonde,” a biopic about Marilyn Monroe starring “Knives Out” actress Ana de Armas; “Bernstein,” a Leonard Bernstein biopic about the legendary composer and conductor behind “West Side Story,” starring Bradley Cooper.

For the theater kids, former theater kids, and theater-kid-adjacents:

These are for the people still blasting the “Hamilton” soundtrack out of their car speakers whenever they go for a drive, despite the eye-rolls of their friends. It’s a good time to be a theater kid — musicals are definitely showing out on the big screen this year.

“West Side Story” — dir. Stephen Spielberg

Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” became a 1957 hit Broadway musical … which became the 1961 winner of the Oscar for Best Picture ... which is now Spielberg’s latest project. Spielberg cast Ansel Elgort to play Tony, opposite Rachel Zegler as Maria. This will be Elgort’s first musical role, and Zegler is a 17-year-old high schooler and singer-songwriter from New Jersey making her film debut. Rita Moreno, beloved for her performance as Anita in the first film, is returning to the classic tale — this time as a feminized version of the character Doc, now named Valentina. Despite that change, screenwriter Tony Kushner has vowed that they intend to keep it classic with their adaptation, which will still feature all the iconic numbers such as “America” and “I Feel Pretty” from Leonard Bernstein’s original score.

“West Side Story” will be released on Dec. 18.

“In the Heights” — dir. John M. Chu

Before he ever thought to write hip-hop tracks about the founding fathers, Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the music and lyrics for “In the Heights.” The musical premiered on Broadway in 2008 and starred Miranda himself as Usnavi, the leading role. “In the Heights” follows the story of three summer days in the Latin neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City. After being the understudy on Broadway, Anthony Ramos will play Usnavi in the film, joined in the cast by Corey Hawkins, Stephanie Beatriz, and Jimmy Smits. With all of Miranda’s original music and a screenplay by Quiara Alegría Hudes, who wrote the book for the stage musical, the movie aims to hold onto the essence of the original musical. However, the trailer reveals that this adaptation is updated for 2020, with conversations about gentrification and immigration in the Trump era.

“In the Heights” is scheduled for theatrical release on June 26.

Honorable mentions: “Annette,” an original musical about a stand-up comedian and his family, starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard. “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie,” an adapted musical about a teenage drag queen starring new actor Max Harwood and seasoned star Richard E. Grant.

For users of both Spotify Premium and Letterboxd Pro:

You’ve found yourself explaining, “It’s like Goodreads, but for movies!” on more than one occasion. You make it a point to correct people on the difference between a score and a soundtrack. The whole family knows to buy you Alamo Drafthouse gift cards for your birthday. If you’re both a cinephile and a music head, make time for the following flicks this year.

“The French Dispatch” — dir. Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson’s 10th film is, according to IndieWire, a “love letter to journalists set at an outpost of an American newspaper in 20th Century Paris.” Despite rumors, Anderson has confirmed that “The French Dispatch” is not a musical, and the plot isn’t music-related either. However, Anderson’s films are known for having such great scores that it’s hard to believe his newest project won’t live up to that standard, especially with the help of decorated composer Alexander Desplat. Desplat won the Oscar for Best Original Score in 2015 for Anderson’s “Grand Budapest Hotel” after being nominated for the same award in 2010 for Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” He’s also secured one more win and eight more nominations for Best Score with other directors. The film will feature Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, and several other famous actors. With its all-star cast supported by Desplat’s award winning composition, “The French Dispatch” is sure to be a hit.

“The French Dispatch” is currently in post-production but does not yet have a set release date.

“Soul” — dir. Pete Docter

“Soul” is a jazz-centric product of Pixar’s new commitment to fresh ideas. It follows a middle school music teacher named Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) on the brink of his big break. The trailer doesn’t give away much in terms of storyline — all we know so far is that Joe falls into a manhole where his soul separates from his body, emerging as a bluish blob. Before his fall, we see Joe pounding out upbeat piano chords spliced with rhythmic shots of a jazz club, a barber shop, and the busy streets of New York City. He voices over with questions of legacy and identity until he meets another blue blob (Tina Fey) in the abyss of the manhole. Both the director (Pete Docter; “Up,” “Inside Out”) and composer (Trent Reznor; “The Social Network”) have won Oscars and great critical acclaim for their animations and scores, so this film guarantees to be a cinematic and musical sensation.

See “Soul” in theaters on June 19.

Honorable mentions: “Utropica,” a sci-fi adventure scored by Michael Giacchino, the Oscar-winning composer for “Up,” with award nominations for “Jojo Rabbit,” “Coco,” “Ratatouille,” and “Lost.” “Wander Darkly,” a drama scored by Alex Weston, the Oscar-shortlisted composer for “The Farewell.” “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” a reboot of one of Keanu Reeves’ and Alex Winter’s earliest roles, this time with a musical bent.

No matter your taste in movies or music, 2020 promises to provide some combination of the two that’ll speak to you.

Afterglow ATXJanuary 3, 2020