Reel Rockers: 22 Classic Rock & Roll Movies

We salute the debut of Rainn Wilson's ''The Rocker'' with our list of the greatest, most rebellious, rawkin'-est films ever, including ''The Last Waltz'' and ''Purple Rain'' (but, sadly, not ''The Rocker'')

By Simon Vozick-Levinson Updated August 19, 2008 at 06:00 PM EDT

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45. LA BAMBA (1987) SUBJECT: Ritchie Valens

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Writer-director Luis Valdez took a little-known piece of the rock and roll puzzle — the life of Latino rock groundbreaker Valens (played by then-newcomer Lou Diamond Phillips), who went down on that plane with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper the Day the Music Died — and found its own rich tapestry. Plus, it had kick-ass music by Los Lobos. Which is always good. —Marc Bernardin

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Credit: Backbeat: Mark Tillie

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JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL IN HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (2001)

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The things people do for love. After Hansel (Mitchell) falls in love, he plans to leave communist East Germany for the West to marry his lover. But in order to get married, he undergoes a sex change, so Hansel becomes Hedwig. The results aren't so great, though, hence the Angry Inch part of the movie's title.

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Reel Rockers: 22 Classic Rock & Roll Movies

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45. LA BAMBA (1987) SUBJECT: Ritchie Valens

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JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL IN HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (2001)

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