Movies can be more than the sound of music

From Phil Spector and Feist to Broken Social Scene and Lil' Wayne, these music movies are hits.

By ERIK MCCLANAHAN Special to the Star Tribune

October 2, 2010 — 1:05pm

At Sound Unseen, the annual festival of music-related movies, a lot of people show up at screenings for one reason: because they are fans of the music or musicians featured in the film. But some of the movies rise above that standard, showing themselves worthy of reaching a wider audience.

This year's Sound Unseen, running Thursday through Saturday at three Minneapolis locations, features a handful of titles -- documentaries, biographies, narratives -- that are just good movies, regardless of musical focus. Here are my picks for the festival's five best presentations, along with another seven that are noteworthy.

1. "THIS MOVIE IS BROKEN"

(★★★ 1/2 out of four stars)

A concert documentary featuring Broken Social Scene, but grafted onto it is a fictional story line. The plot is about the unrequited love between a guy and a girl, but the novelty of the concert footage (an actual show the actors attended in character) mixed with the imposed narrative works, thanks to director Bruce McDonald's deft mixing of music and melodrama. The surprise ending -- a very modern take on the love triangle -- seems at first out of left field, but in hindsight underscores the band's message while commenting on the fluidity and disorder of modern relationships. (7 p.m. Fri., Trylon)

2. "WHO IS HARRY NILSSON (AND WHY IS EVERYBODY TALKIN' ABOUT HIM)"

(★★★ 1/2)

You may not know Harry Nilsson, but you've heard his music. An audience can get lost in this, the most fully realized documentary of the festival. Its high entertainment value is derived from the director's embrace of the standard tropes: talking heads, gems of archival footage and photos, and a straightforward delineation of information. Innovation isn't necessary when you have a subject like Nilsson, named by the Beatles as their favorite singer. A fitting tribute to a gifted musician you should know more about. (8 p.m. Sat., Southern Theater)

3. "LOOK AT WHAT THE LIGHT DID NOW"

(★★★ 1/2)

About Canadian musician Feist's album "The Reminder," and the community of artists that helped her realize her artistic ambitions. It's breezy, lovingly put together and makes it all too easy to fall for the singer, whose songs you may well want to hear more of after the film (I sure do). Sometimes the artistic process can be a joy to watch. (7 p.m. Thu., Trylon)

4. "THE CARTER"

(★★★)

"Weed and syrup til I die" pronounces Lil' Wayne in one of his incalculable songs, his voice a dissonant cluster of digital manipulation awash in bland beats. So if the music is so bad (at least to my ears), then why does the film work? Three things already noted: weed, syrup and incalculable songs. He's prolific and drug-addled before our eyes, and quite possibly the most narcissistic rapper on the planet, but it's compelling. Wayne has withdrawn his support of the documentary, and that only adds to the allure. (9 p.m. Fri., Trylon)

5. "THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF PHIL SPECTOR"

(★★★)

Phil Spector's impressive career included writing and producing some of the best love songs of all time ("Be My Baby" by the Ronettes is pop perfection), and creating his famous "wall of sound" recording technique. This film blends an appreciation of his career, but it's also an unflinching, fair portrait of Spector's creepy confidence, never once doubting his greatness or his innocence while giving an exclusive interview during his first murder trial. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Southern Theater)