Music, Documentary
Copyright Criminals examines the creative and commercial value of musical sampling, including the related debates over artistic expression, copyright law, and (of course) money. This documentary traces the rise of hip-hop from the urban streets of New York to its current status as a multibillion-dollar industry. For more than thirty years, innovative hip-hop performers and producers have been re-using portions of previously recorded music in new, otherwise original compositions. When lawyers and record companies got involved, what was once referred to as a “borrowed melody” became a “copyright infringement.” The film showcases many of hip-hop music’s founding figures like Public Enemy, De La Soul, and Digital Underground—while also featuring emerging hip-hop artists from record labels Definitive Jux, Rhymesayers, Ninja Tune, and more.
MOVIE COMMENTS
SIMILAR MOVIES
Kanamewo
Woodstock
Dissonance
Like It Is
Beyoncé: Live in Atlantic City
The New Music
That Thing You Do!
The Swan Princess: Kingdom of Music
Quest
War of Words: Battle Rap in the UK
You Gave Me A Song: The Life and Music of Alice Gerrard
Apparition of the Eternal Church
Britney Spears: Workin' It
Dardara
Bill Evans Time Remembered
Good Copy Bad Copy
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band
Allegro non troppo
Roger Waters: Us + Them
Phil Collins: A Life Less Ordinary
SIMILAR MOVIES
Kanamewo
IMDB 6.9 | Nov , 2015
A young, unnamed woman, while biking home from the bank she works at, happens upon a weakened tree goddess whose native shrine is being demolished for construction work. She rescues her and brings the goddess home with her. The two form a relationship, but what will happen to the goddess as the construction progresses?Woodstock
IMDB 7.5 | Mar , 1970
An intimate look at the Woodstock Music & Art Festival held in Bethel, NY in 1969, from preparation through cleanup, with historic access to insiders, blistering concert footage, and portraits of the concertgoers; negative and positive aspects are shown, from drug use by performers to naked fans sliding in the mud, from the collapse of the fences by the unexpected hordes to the surreal arrival of National Guard helicopters with food and medical assistance for the impromptu city of 500,000.Dissonance
IMDB 10 | Feb , 2018
A man must express his true passion of music and rhythm in a world where it is repressed and outlawed.Like It Is
IMDB 4.8 | Jul , 1968
This documentary on the "youth movement" of the late 1960s focuses on the hippie pot smoking/free love culture in the San Francisco Bay area.Beyoncé: Live in Atlantic City
IMDB 9.4 | Nov , 2013
Live in Atlantic City, which contains live footage from Knowles' four-night residency show Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live in May 2012 at Revel Atlantic City, was released as part of the two-disc set of the home media release of Life Is But a Dream on November 25, 2013. It contains the live performances of 21 songs along with a new song, "God Made You Beautiful".The New Music
IMDB 6 | Oct , 2019
After a Parkinson's diagnosis a classically trained pianist embarks on a path of self discovery leading him to a punk band. Their rebellious lifestyle and music provide a distraction to his troubles and a sharp contrast to his old life.That Thing You Do!
IMDB 6.9 | Oct , 1996
A Pennsylvania band scores a hit in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as it can, with lots of help from its manager. But behind the scenes, the group’s sudden fame tests their strength, their maturity and responsibility, and their ability to resist the temptations that money and notoriety always make possible.The Swan Princess: Kingdom of Music
IMDB 5.7 | Aug , 2019
Princess Odette is hosting a music competition to celebrate Princess Alise's birthday. Prince Li of Cathay has entered, but his sister Princess Mei Li has stowed away on his ship to seek help from Odette and Derek for Chen, who has been cursed to live as a dragon. Who will win the music festival and will Chen ever be free from his curse?Quest
IMDB 7.2 | Jul , 2017
For over a decade, this portrait of a North Philadelphia family and the creative sanctuary offered by their home music studio was filmed with vérité intimacy. The family's 10-year journey is an illumination of race and class in America, and it's a testament to love, healing and hope.War of Words: Battle Rap in the UK
IMDB 8.5 | Jan , 2017
WAR OF WORDS is an energizing, controversial and inspiring feature documentary that lifts the lid on the fast growing UK Battle Rap scene. The documentary is an examination of an exciting subculture of youth in the UK today; their creativity and work ethic, their passion for language and ability to control their own destiny. It investigates freedom of expression and respect for other cultures and lifestyles. While the language is often harsh and unflinching, the 'anything goes' philosophy of the battle arena results in one of the most harmonious and creative scenes in youth culture. The film is a truly entertaining expose on how the UK has embraced this American art form, creating one of the most exciting youth subcultures happening right now.You Gave Me A Song: The Life and Music of Alice Gerrard
IMDB 10 | Apr , 2019
You Gave Me A Song offers an intimate portrait of old-time music pioneer Alice Gerrard and her remarkable, unpredictable journey creating and preserving traditional music. The film follows eighty-four year old Gerrard over several years, weaving together verité footage of living room rehearsals, recording sessions, songwriting, archival work, and performances with photos and rare field recordings. Much of the film is told in Alice’s voice and via interviews with musical collaborators and family members who share the story of Alice and others chasing that high lonesome sound.Apparition of the Eternal Church
IMDB 0 | Jan , 2006
The movie captures the responses of 31 authors, musicians, filmmakers and dancers to Olivier Messiaen's monumental organ work "Apparition of the Eternal Church." Listening to the 10-minute piece through headphones, the documentary subjects-most of whom are outsiders to the church and do not know what they're hearing-put Messiaen's project to the test: Is it possible to portray, through time-bound, invisible sound, the spiritual, the architectural, the eternal? The result is a collective interpretation improvising its way through an aesthetic landscape defined by violent contradictions. Resolution abuts eternity, eroticism asceticism, spiritual ecstasy physical torture. Together, the music and its interpreters conjure something like what William Blake famously called the marriage of heaven and hell.Britney Spears: Workin' It
IMDB 8.3 | May , 2014
With the release of her eighth studio album, Britney is back and she's workin' it! This documentary chronicles the career of international superstar from her more innocent years with the release of "Baby One more Time" to being the highest paid judge on US X Factor and collaborating with Will.i.am on her latest album. She is worldwide a pop icon, who continues to grow and deliver to her fans. This is her inside story.Dardara
IMDB 9.3 | Mar , 2021
After 25 years of non-stop creation and at the peak of their career, the rock band Berri Txarrak decided to hang up their instruments. But before they did that, and as a farewell, they did one last tour around the world to thank all those fans who had bopped to their music all those years. A film about the power of music and passion — the “minimum requirement,” as one of their lyrics says.Bill Evans Time Remembered
IMDB 6.7 | Nov , 2015
A biographical film featuring the music and times of Bill Evans with interviews from Tony Bennett, Jack Dejohnette, Billy Taylor, Paul Motian, Jon Hendricks, Orin Keepnews, Bobby Brookmeyer, Pat Evans and more, including family and friends who knew Bill Evans well.Good Copy Bad Copy
IMDB 7.4 | Jan , 2007
Good Copy Bad Copy is a documentary about copyright and culture in the context of Internet, peer-to-peer file sharing and other technological advances.Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band
IMDB 6.7 | Feb , 2020
A confessional, cautionary, and occasionally humorous tale of Robbie Robertson's young life and the creation of one of the most enduring groups in the history of popular music, The Band.Allegro non troppo
IMDB 7.1 | Mar , 1976
An enterprising producer believes he has hit upon a winning concept: a program of original animated shorts set to classical music. Undeterred by warnings that this has already been done by an American named 'Prisney,' he rallies an orchestra of geriatric women, a bullish conductor, and an animator that he keeps locked in the dungeon. What could go wrong?Roger Waters: Us + Them
IMDB 7.8 | Oct , 2019
Filmed in Amsterdam on the European leg of his 2017 – 2018 Us + Them tour which saw Waters perform to over two million people worldwide, the film features songs from his legendary Pink Floyd albums (The Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, Animals, Wish You Were Here) and from his last album, Is This The Life We Really Want?Phil Collins: A Life Less Ordinary
IMDB 9 | Nov , 2002
A detailed profile of the life and career of musician Phil Collins.