Rock Stars Are Cool Again (Well On Film Anyway)
You’ve probably heard the news.
Jean-Marc Vallée took himself off the Bond 25 director shortlist to have the opportunity to direct the upcoming John Lennon/Yoko Ono biopic.
Vallée is one of the most sought after director currently working in Hollywood and his work spans both on the silver screen and on TV. His work on Sharp Objects and Big Little Lies was astonishing and he’s no stranger to directing biopics.
The Academy Award nominated Wild and Dallas Buyers Club were biopics, and let’s not forget The Young Victoria, the biopics about Queen Victoria’s early reign.
But this is forming a pattern. A biopic about rock stars/acclaimed musicians that either has already been made or is in the process of getting made.
Bohemian Rhapsody, the biographical film about the British rock band Queen and its front man Freddie mercury is awaiting release, while Rocketman the biopic about the life and career of Elton John is set for 2019 release. Surprisingly Dexter Fletcher helmed both of the movies, but it doesn’t end there.
Michelle Williams is set to play Janis Joplin in Janis Joplin: Get It While You Can, the much anticipated biopic about the legendary singer, and Amy Winehouse biopic is set to begin filming next year. There’s no word on who will play Amy in the biopic, but apparently the film has been approved by Winehouse’s family.
So, I guess rock stars are cool again, and Hollywood is looking for different faces to put on the silver screen. I mean how many times can you re-make the Kurt Cobain story?
But why are they prevalent now? Some may argue that it’s because the biopics are a great Oscar favorites, especially in the acting categories. And when you have actors like Rami Malek playing Freddie Mercury and Michelle Williams playing Janis Joplin, you just know that the movie is going for Oscar glory even if the movie sucks.
For instance, the overall reception of Bohemian Rhapsody is not that great, but Rami is considered a front-runner for an Oscar nomination even from late October. What else? The Rock star biopics are here to remind us that once upon a time they were cool. Yes, they were also tragic, misunderstood and damages individuals but they were cool damn it. And with the state of the current rock scene, those days are looong gone.
So, yeah… Look out for many more biopics about rock icons. They may be dead or past their prime, but Hollywood is resurrecting them for a new shot at glory. In Hollywood, they’re cool again.
