Ruby (portrayed by Emilia Jones), who is 17 years old, is the only hearing child of a family full of deaf people — a CODA, or a child of a deaf adult.

Her life consists of full-time jobs as a translator for her parents (played by Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin) and working herself to death on the family's floundering fishing boat before class begins, along with her dad and elder brother (played by Daniel Durant).

Ruby develops a talent for singing when she joins her school's choir club, and she quickly finds herself attracted to her duet partner named Miles (played by Ferdia Walsh-Peelo). Ruby is divided between the responsibility she has toward her family members and the fulfillment of her own aspirations when her choirmaster (Eugenio Derbez) encourages her to apply to a prominent music school.

If "CODA" has any flaw, it might be that the movie wears its heart on its sleeves so much that it sometimes verges on formula - particularly when it makes up plot-moving obstacles that seem needless. However, the film never goes overboard, and if a few parts are predictable, so what? They are really efficient. Please pass us some tissues if that is "formula". Some water has entered our eyes!

Year of Release: 2021

Stars: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

The Beach Boys were among the finest rock bands in America. They are also one of the biggest liars in rock.

Their first lie is quite straightforward: Despite the fact that their early songs became synonymous with the laid-back, tanned West Coast surfer lifestyle, the band's members — three siblings, a relative, and a buddy — were not surfers.

The second deception is the more intricate one, and it is the one that "Love & Mercy" filmmaker, Bill Pohland, examines with devastating effect: Brian Wilson, the group's mastermind, was neither laid-back nor carefree. When he sang "Good Vibes," it was in striking contrast to the almost daily terrible vibrations that plagued him.

As one of the best movies about music, "Love & Mercy" alternates between two eras of Brian Wilson's life, eschewing the more common musical biopic conventions. While the other band members were on tour in Japan, we see the teenage Wilson (Paul Dano) stayed behind to compose his masterpiece "Pet Sounds." Wilson chose to remain at home in part due to his strong need to write music and in part due to his panic episodes when traveling.

Then we see a grown-up Wilson (by John Cusack) in 1980 — now shattered, drug-addicted, and under the control of an abusive and egomaniacal psychiatrist called Eugene Landy (by Paul Giamatti) — just as he starts a tentative affair with former model and Cadillac saleswoman Melinda Ledbetter (by Elizabeth Banks).

Year of Release: 2014

Stars: Paul Dano, John Cusack

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

"Almost Famous" is another music movie that leaves us amazed and satisfied.

William - a 15-year-old unapologetic music aficionado who is influenced by the era's pioneering bands - comes of age in humorous and sometimes heartbreaking ways in this 1973-set movie. When his passion for music earns him a job from Rolling Stone to meet the up-and-coming group Stillwater — headed by lead vocalist Jeff Bebe and lead guitarist Russell Hammond - he is ecstatic. William goes on an enlightening adventure with the group's tour, despite his mother's concerns.

In the movie "Almost Famous," his greatest personal film, director Crowe reflects on this defining event of his life and adapts it into a charming coming-of-age comedy. Even if acid is picked up, groupies are traded like poker chips, and rock star egos explode like pyrotechnics, the relative purity of that age still shines through, in which rock music had not yet completely surrendered to the spirit of capitalism.

"Almost Famous" is imbued with a tenderness that belongs to both the director and his alter ego, William, whose intelligent yet awestruck eyes are treasured by the viewers. William aches for a groupie named Penny Lane - portrayed by Kate Hudson - the daughter of Goldie Hawn. He shouts, "I'm not sweet!" at her. "I am strange and ominous." Aren't these descriptions suited to most boys that age?

Year of Release: 2000

Stars: Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Johnny Cash has always been regarded as a musical legend, and many attempts have been made to capture his somewhat mysterious private life on the silver screen. And out of many such attempts, we are confident to say that "Walk The Line", one of the best movies about music (and about Johnny Cash, too), definitely stands out.

In "Walk The Line", the career of country music icon Johnny Cash (played by Joaquin Phoenix) starts with his childhood on a small farm, where he endures his father's (played by Robert Patrick) disapproval of his music passion. Cash moves to Memphis, Tennessee, with his wife Vivian (played by Ginnifer Goodwin) and bursts into the music industry after discovering his signature style. Cash finds his true love, June Carter (by Reese Witherspoon), while on tour, but Cash's tumultuous lifestyle attempts to tear them apart.

As the horsing Nashville diva, Witherspoon sparkles as if she were born to play the role. Her vitality and warmth balance Johnny's obsessiveness, and her straightforwardness reveals all of his deceptions. Phoenix imbues Johnny with a captivating passion, gradually maturing into the character over time. The concert sequences are the centerpiece of the movie, with outstanding vocal delivery from the leads; Witherspoon belts it out, while Phoenix finds a deep growl that mimics part of Cash's unmistakable tone.

Year of Release: 2005

Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%

The basic plot is this: DJay (played by Terrence Howard) is a pimp who lives on the rough streets of Memphis, Tennessee on a daily basis. At the cusp of his fortieth year, he is extremely weary of his existence and yearns for something bigger.

When he encounters an old acquaintance who is currently in the music business, DJay is encouraged to change the ways he lives and utilizes his criminal past as inspiration for his rap songs. Djay hustles to get the attention of a rap celebrity - and maybe get recruited by a label - when he learns that a rap star is arriving in the city.

In 2005, when the movie "Hustle & Flow" debuted at Sundance, nobody knew what they should expect. A new director (Craig Brewer) entered the scene, and nobody knew anything about his capabilities. Meanwhile, after more than 30 films, Terrence Howard was striving to make a breakthrough in a leading part. In the end, turns out these two did not disappoint at all!

Along with the theme song ("It's Hard for a Pimp") that won the movie an Academy Award - and Howard's amazing performance that earned him a nomination for Best Actor - "Hustle & Flow" is unquestionably one of the most emotional, uplifting, feel-good pictures that people have ever seen in decades.

Year of Release: 2005

Stars: Terrance Howard, Anthony Anderson

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%

"Elvis" - true to its name - examines the private life and legendary songs of Elvis Presley (played by Austin Butler) through the lens of his complex relationship with his mysterious manager, Colonel Parker (Tom Hanks). The movie explores the two's relationship over the course of twenty years, starting from Presley's ascent to fame, against the background of America's changing cultural environment and loss of innocence. Priscilla Presley (played by Olivia DeJonge), one of the most crucial and influential individuals in Elvis's life, is central to this voyage.

You should expect neither the downturn nor Elvis' efforts to curry favor with Richard Nixon to be discussed in this movie. Also, the character Priscilla is actually scarcely mentioned. The whole "Elvis" movie is best seen as a showbiz pantomime, with names of renowned actors popping in and out as Kelvin Harrison Jr. took on the role of BB King and Alton Mason played Little Richard.

The focus on Elvis' liabilities to black music could have been expressed more discreetly than with rap renditions of his songs (Eminem, CeeLo Green, and Doja Cat are some of the soundtrack collaborators). "Elvis" is exaggerated, one-dimensional, and absurd, but as a work of cinematic mythologizing, it's a masterpiece!

Year of Release: 2022

Stars: Austin Butler, Tom Hank

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%

After having a hallucinogenic experience in the Californian desert, Jim Morrison (played by Val Kilmer) - the lead singer of a band called The Doors - and his comrades begin playing in Los Angeles and become an instant phenomenon. However, as Jim begins neglecting his musical duties and his fiancée Pamela (Meg Ryan) in favor of his deadly addictions and Patricia (by Kathleen Quinlan), an alluring and occult-obsessed woman, the band becomes concerned about their leader.

"The Doors" is blisteringly sinking in hot colors - either bathed in honeyed golds, villainously blue and black, or those swooning, flaming reds. "The Doors" assaults the ears and burns the eyes. Robert Richardson, the cameraman, and Barbara Ling, the production designer, have clearly had a field day. Enemies of director Stone - those who feel he is always attempting to subjugate his audience - may also have a field day, too!

Director Stone has picked an incredible cast. Kilmer's Morrison is a stunning marvel, as the actor executes a "Raging Bull"-style transformation from mopey acid Adonis to a drunk man with weirdly poignant flair. Also, Crispin Glover's charmingly tentative and hotly insane moments as the character Andy Warhol are almost as remarkable as Kathleen Quinlan's witchy hauteur in the role of a British pop journalist Patricia Kennealy.

Year of Release: 1991
Stars: Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 57%