2021 Movies : Music

With Edgar Wright • Nira Park • Ron Mael • Russell Mael • Beck

Edgar Wright’s debut documentary The Sparks Brothers, which features commentary from celebrity fans Flea, Beck, Jack Antonoff, Jason Schwartzman, Neil Gaiman, and more, takes audiences on a musical odyssey through five weird and wonderful decades with brothers/bandmates Ron and Russell Mael celebrating the inspiring legacy of Sparks: your favorite band’s favorite band.

With Chris Rock • Sal Masekela • Lin-Manuel Miranda • Questlove • Max Roach • Mahalia Jackson • Jesse Jackson • B.B. King • Stevie Wonder • Abbey Lincoln • Nina Simone • Moms Mabley • Mavis Staples

Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was never seen and largely forgotten–until now. SUMMER OF SOUL shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. The feature includes never-before-seen concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Ray Baretto, Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach and more.

With Eric Schaeffer • Annabella Sciorra • Craig Bierko • Chris Perfetti

Samantha Miller, a talented singer-songwriter, had a semi-hit record early in her career but nothing since. Now 52 and questioning life’s meaning, she is haunted by past choices in love, family and career.

With Nick Broomfield

Suge Knight, the former CEO of legendary rap music label Death Row Records was recently sentenced to 28 years imprisonment. This film takes a look at Death Row and how L.A.’s street gang culture had come to dominate its business workings.

With Forest Whitaker • Marlon Wayans • Jennifer Hudson • Mary J. Blige • Scott Bernstein • Tituss Burgess • Hailey Kilgore • Audra McDonald • Kimberly Scott • Tate Donovan • Aaron L. Gilbert • Sue Baden-Powell • Jason Cloth • Harvey Mason • Marc Maron • Liesl Tommy • Saycon Sengbloh • Skye Dakota Turner • Tracey Scott Wilson • Stacy Sher • Heather Headley

Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, Respect is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.

With Colin Tilley

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, an hour-long film set to the music of Halsey’s upcoming album, introduces a young pregnant Queen, Lila, as she wrestles with the manipulative chokehold of love to ultimately discover that the ability to create life (and end it) unlocks the paranormal power within her.