Pop Culture Buzz

1.) “Hedwig & The Angry Inch”

This movie is emotionally charged, has a great main character, campy dialog w/ quotable scenes and best of all…the best rock n’ roll tunes to come out of a movie EVER! Hedwig will make you laugh, cry and sing out loud. This movie is the best modern day musical movie adaptation, period!

2.) “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”

Another movie with a great rockin’ soundtrack is this cult classic. As a kid I often would sneak out to midnight screenings of “Rocky Horror” and would watch in awe at the interactive circus. I love Susan Sarandon in her first film role ever as Janet, her and Tim Curry chew up each scene they are in with pitch perfect campy results.

3.) “Little Shop of Horrors”

It has always been a dream of mine to play Seymour in a local musical rendition stage play of this movie. Frank Oz directs a camp filled hilarious “horror” musical with fabulous results. Steve Martin is inspired casting as “the Dentist” and each one of the songs are catchy and infectious.

4.) “Dancer In The Dark”

This movie is depressing and down right sad. But Bjork gives a remarkable performance as a victimized single mother who is going blind. The soundtrack to this movie called “Selma Songs” is brilliantly haunting. We watch Selma go through one traumatic experience after another and her only escape is her imagination. The images and topics touched on in this film make it one of the most original movie musicals ever made.

5.) “The Nightmare Before Christmas”

This is my favorite animate film of all time, so how could it not have made this list? The song’s are classic and timeless. The direction and beautiful stop motion animation make it a marvel to look at. It is a family holiday classic that will last generations to come.

6.) “Evita”

This is Madonna’s best acting performance ever and the role she was meant to play all her life. Some would say that this is the point where Madonna even started singing better. She even won the Golden Globe for best Actress in a Comedy or Musical. I love the soundtrack just because it is Madonna but really do love the tender Oscar winning song “You Must Love Me”.

7.) “Moulin Rouge”

As experimental and modern as this film tries to be, it reminds me of old time musicals the most. Moulin Rouge is responsible for the movie musical Renaissance period we are currently experiencing in cinema. Baz Luhrman recreated a dead genre and made young people excited about movie musicals again. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGreggor give two of the best acting performances in a movie musical ever!

8.) “Hairspray”

My favorite movie of all time ended up becoming a terrific and uplifting movie musical. “Hairspray” is witty, silly and fun. It was the perfect little sleeper hit that spiced up a dreary summer movie season. A dead funny performance by John Travolta and an uplifting story make this musical an instant classic.

9.) “Chicago”

Catherine Zeta-Jones deserved the Oscar she won for her role in this classic movie musical. The sleek and stylish direction and choreography make this a throw back to the classic musicals of the 70’s like “Cabaret”. Adding a bit of social commentary and hip imagery “Chicago” is the sexiest film on this list.

10.) “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”

I bet you forgot this was a musical, didn’t you? But how could you forget the classic tunes “The Candy Man” or “Pure Imagination”? At times this movie was creepy, hilarious and magical. Gene Wilder gives an inspired performance as the wacky main character. I prefer this movie over the Tim Burton remake any day.

11.) “Labyrinth”

This obscure cult classic is on this list because I love Muppets! Not only does David Bowie give a cool as ice performance but we get great muppet characters and visual effects with catchy 80’s era sounding tunes. Also, check out the cute as a button future Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly in one of her first roles at age 16.

12.) “The Wizard of Oz”

This is the oldest film on my list and the one film that has stood up to the test of time. Everyone knows the songs and can quote the film at the drop of a dime. Watching Judy Garland sing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” still pulls at my heart strings.

13.) “Annie”

As a kid I watched this movie a lot, and one summer a bit too much. It is the quintessential kids movie musical. I love Carol Burnett’s outrageous performance in this movie. And who doesn’t love the iconic songs “Tomorrow” or “It’s A Hard Knock Life”?

14.) “Dreamgirls”

I love this film for one reason and one reason only….Jennifer Hudson. She is a revelation as Effy in this movie, which is why it was no shock that she won the Oscar in 2006.

15.) Jesus Christ Superstar

As a kid I loved the “Jesus Christ Superstar” soundtrack record even though I had never seen the movie. As an adult I love the funky juxtaposition of watching a bunch of stoner looking hippies playing the groovy part of Jesus’s followers. The music kicks ass in this movie, and I’m an atheist!

RUNNERS UP: Bugsy Malone, Popeye, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Wiz, My Fair Lady, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, Xanadu