Rating: 
Summary: Fanfare for the Uncommon Band
Review: Definitely feeling the effects of the economy and it's the beginning of a long winter in Chicago. I needed a good movie to get me out of myself and what better way to get away from the doldrums then with some very un-dull drumming. Devon Miles has just arrived from NYC at Atlanta A&T University with a full drumming scholarship. Used to being a stand-out, he's not ready to follow bandleader Aaron Lee's directive to be "One Band, One Sound." He thinks he's too good to follow the rules -- and he just may be. But, as Dr. Lee tells him, "You've got to learn to follow before you can lead." Devon clashes with Dr. Lee and with the drumline's student leader, Sean -- who'd been the best drummer until Devin showed up. But Devin has an undeniably rich and creative spirit. Can he fit in without losing his individuality -- a question we recognize from real life. When does compromising have benefits and when not? Despite Devin's cockiness, he's a very likable guy and wanting to know how he resolves this issue carried me easily through this two hour movie. Orlando Jones also makes the movie fly. As Dr. Lee, he's the personification of principled decency -- in fact, he's awesome and will totally make you forget those 7 Up commercials. In the beginning, a rival bandleader alleges that Dr. Lee has a baton stuck up his ... well, you don't hear it, but he probably didn't say "bass." But, as the story progresses, Dr. Lee reveals himself to be an interesting and complex personality who, despite a propensity for "old time music", does indeed know how to make his band pop. (And, in the end, he comes up with a stylistic triumph that evokes more than those "old time" tunes.) Devon's ups and downs are somewhat predictable, but this is one of those movies with a feel-good factor that made me happy to overlook that completely. The music and moves are awesome. Nothing could have peeled me from my seat during the story's culmination in the BET marching band championship I had to remind myself that I was in a dignified movie theater setting to keep from cheering from our "stadium" seating. Although the movie is rated PG-13, it's appropriate for most ages. I don't recall any cursing, Devin's scenes with his girlfriend are very chaste and there's a brief scene of non-graphic fisticuffs. If you're a fan of percussion, you'll really love this movie. But even if not, and you're just looking for a seasonal up-lift, well, it can't be ... beat.
Rating: 
Summary: A must for fans of marching bands/drum corps
Review: This film is perfect for fans of marching bands, Drum Corps International (DCI) and especially fans of drumlines. The storyline is predictable, of course: young, cocky upstart (Nick Cannon as Devon) challenges everyone around him, including his section leader Sean(Leonard Roberts) and the band director (Orlando Roberts), but the performances by Cannon and Roberts are convincing enough to keep the film entertaining. Cannon, in particular, has just the right touch of intensity for the film. Zoe Saldana is lovely as Laila, but she does not get to show her chops much as a peripheral character to the action. Orlando Brown does not fully get to show off his charisma. The key pieces, however, are the band performances (played by the real bands of Morris Brown College, Clark Atlanta University, Bethune-Cookman College, and Grambling State), the highlights without question being the drum breaks. Drumline is not one of those emotionally "deep" films, but it is highly entertaining: in the tradition of movies like Hoosiers and Rudy. The face off at the film's end between two drumlines for the fictional Big South Classic itself is worth the price of the film.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: A friend recommended this movie to me and after watching it 3 times I can see why we both love this film. I was mesmerised by the drumline scences- I live in Europe and we don't have black colleges and marching bands as a part of our culture but this movie crosses cultural boundaries. Good plot, nice romance without being to sugary only disapponted by the ending (not really) I didn't want it to end so I watched it all over again!
Rating:
Summary: This movie brought back memories of my days in college band!
Review: I'm admittedly biased -- I played in the marching band in college, and I am an alumni brother of Kappa Kappa Psi. (Yes, folks, the band fraternity portrayed in the movie is REAL -- it actually does exist!) As an "old school" person who prefers classical, jazz, and classic rock to today's hip hop and pop, I'll admit that I had a few doubts when I rented this movie, but as a former band person (and a KKPsi brother), I felt obligated to watch it. Wow! I was (pleasantly) shocked! Contrary to what one previous reviewer said (trashing the movie and saying "there's no plot") there in fact IS a plot. I saw a lot of myself reflected in Devin's (sp?) character -- a cocky freshman with a lot of talent trying to make his mark in a collegiate marching band. Through the movie, he comes of age and realizes that band is indeed a team sport, collaborating with his rival (the section leader Sean) to write a new show, and helping his fellow drummer (the character played by GQ whose name I don't remember) regain his spot on the line. There is a great deal of spirit and tension in this movie. Even in the "special features," the director mentioned that "this is a sports movie, and the sport is band." As a fan of sports movies, I'm inclined to agree. In fact, I was so taken by this movie that here I am writing a review for it -- and adding it to my Amazon wish list!
Rating:
Summary: A "feel-great" movie that everyone should enjoy!
Review: My review of "Drumline" is based on what I saw at the theater, not on home video. First of all, the plot is pure formula, inspired by "An Officer and A Gentleman". Remove that complaint, and it's a great film. The movie is highly original in that it shows, (perhaps for the first time on the screen), what it's really like to be in a marching band in college. This film does an excellent job in showing a real-life school, with real people, in a way that should not offend that many people. There's no real gratutious sex, violence, or bad language. What it has is in keeping with it's PG-13 rating. Nick Cannon graduates from a high school in a lower-income neighborhood in New York City. He was raised by his mother, his father having little to do with either one of them. He gets a musical diploma to a college in Atlanta. He has an attitude; he's a great drummer and he knows it. We later find out he cann't read sheet music, (he lied on his college application), but he has the ability to learn very fast by hearing alone. The fact that Nick was raised by a single parent also contributes to his bad attitude towards the world. Nick does have some good morals, but, it takes some attitude adjustment to bring them out. Orlando Jones, the only big name in the cast, is very believable as the musical director who is stuck on out-of-date music, that while nice to listen to, is not winning the big competition with the other schools. The college pricipal really wants a winning band, much like another pricipal would want a winning football team. The movie shows that being on a marching band means being on time, being part of a team, constant workouts, (just as hard as the football players), and when one person makes a mistake everyone suffers. Also there are four levels in the band from the most talented down to the rookiees. A person on a lower lever can challenge a person on a higher level to a one-on-one musical competition for their seat. The nerve-racking fact that college students, many in their teens or early twenties, have to be near perfect in front of a stadium filled with thousands of people is also shown.I doubt if what it really means to be in a band in college has ever been shown in such detail in a movie before. For the record, I was never in a band in school, but those who were, have said what is shown on the screen is very accurate. "Drumline" does have moments when what the viewer expected to happen does occur, but, it has enough surprises to keep the film-goer engaged. The acting, camera work, music, and location filming are all first rate. This is more than a "fish out of water" film, this is a movie about real people at a real college playing in a real marching band.
Rating:
Summary: Don't know
Review: I don't know why I like this movie. I usually don't like these teenage targeted movies, but I like this one. Maybe I just like percussion. I don't know.
Rating:
Summary: Feel good, feel good, feel real good....
Review: that's what you'll think when you finish this DVD! It's a great flick! If you've ever been in a marching band, no matter how long ago, it will bring it right back to you. Now, most of us only dreamed of being in bands the caliber of those featured in drumline. They are the cream....I didn't catch the names of the REAL marching bands that participated in the movie (the college names are fictional, I believe)...but they were the stars of this particular show. The filmmakers captured the difficulty and exhuberance of being a part of "one band, one music" and the dedication these young people have to being the best at what they do. The only recognizable actor is intense Orlando Jones, as Mr. Lee...and he is very good at what he does. The plot is pretty typical...boy who is a little different from the crowd has incredible talent, faces adversity, finds love, finds his way back to his dream. The boy is a newcommer named Nick Cannon, who has a real screen persona. He's hard not to like. The real star is the music, and the marching, and the in your face color spectacle of being involved in marching band at the college competition level. For a real feel-good experience, catch Drumline. It's awesome!
Rating:
Summary: Energetic, intelligent, and rousing
Review: Okay, I realize this movie isn't "Lawrence of Arabia" in its scope and depth, but I probably enjoyed it just as much. Forget your typical raunchy adolescent humor, this film has true comedy without resorting to toilet jokes and vulgar gags. The movie treats its audience with the respect it deserves and gives us extremely likeable characters who act reasonably and can actually be related to. Nick Cannon exudes natural charisma in his role as a gifted drummer who is perhaps a bit too arrogant. He confuses attitude with confidence but still manages the near-impossible task of being likeable, probably because he is loyal to his family and friends and reflects on his mistakes. Zoe Saldana is his no-nonsense love interest who is both attractive and grounded enough to make him want to change his self-destructive ways. They share a scene at a late night party that is an excellent demonstration of their onscreen chemistry and is as erotic as anything you might see in "Fatal Attraction". The rest of the cast is an A-list of personable characters who excel in supporting roles. I especially enjoyed Orlando Jones, who plays a strict band instructor who is assured, ethical, and modest enough to realize he is wrong. The film is very well paced, with snappy dialogue, and never resorts to the banal. The ending sequences on the football field are imaginative, well-edited, and energizing. "Drumline" showcases the talented artists who are often eclipsed by organized sports: those members of the mini orchestra who provide the musical backdrop that makes sporting events so spectacular.
Rating:
Summary: A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!!! POSITIVE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT!
Review: Truly one of the best movies that I've seen in a long time. Excellent, positive family entertainment. Minimal language, no violence, sex, drugs or negative story lines added to give the crowd pleasing 'R' rating. A definite role model film.
Exciting....kept me bopping in my seat. The bands are amazing!
Brought back memories of my college days.
I loved it!!!
Rating:
Summary: a strong movie for nicky cannon
Review: I am all about some good marching band music as it is, so when I heard drumline was actually coming to a theater near me, I rushed to the box office.What I watched was a beautiful depiction of black college marching bands and all the drama that comes with trying to be the best. There as a wake up area for cannon when he couldn't read music, when he thought he had the drumline position on lock, and when he was chosing to leave the school for J. Anthony brown's school. All of this is both accurate and entertaining. Either way, the movie was very good and well worth the watch. On top of that, there is some really good music being played by both the soundtrack and by the bands.
|
