Release Date: December 13, 2002
Starring: Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, Orlando Jones, Leonard Roberts
Directed by: Charles Stone III
Written by: Brendan Hood
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox Films
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (innuendo, language)
Drumline uses the relatively standard formula of a prodigy’s journey to gain social acceptance while learning life lessons along the way, but there’s a fresh spin in this Finding Forrester-esque movie: it highlights the cutthroat world of show-style marching bands, in much the same way that Bring It On gave moviegoers an “inside” look at competitive cheerleading. Director Charles Stone captures the kinetic, fast-moving choreography of the percussionists with well-edited, slow motion sequences that reveal just how much work is put into the craft of halftime entertainment.
The film’s hero is Devon (Nick Cannon), a talented street drummer from Harlem, who enrolls in Atlanta A&T University expecting to lead the renowned marching band's drumline to victory at the BET Big Southern Classic competition. With his raw talent tainted by overconfidence and a rebellious attitude, he finds the experience to more difficult than he expected -- forcing him to learn how to become a team player.
Cannon, despite his character’s lack of many admirable qualities, wins the audience’s affection with his charm and high-spirited attitude. This is essential in a movie where there are few recognizable faces in the cast (though Orlando Jones has a supporting role as a music instructor, and commendably sheds his image as a comedian with a convincing dramatic performance).
Director Stone treads lightly, successfully avoiding the clichés of another teen movie. But at the same time, he failed to discard many of the qualities that threaten to put this film into the category of another typical sports movie.
Indeed, the premise borrows the same old characters from other sports, and especially high school/collegiate sports movies: The lead character is a prodigy who has maturing to do, who is antagonized by one of his more established teammates (er, bandmates). The coach, er, bandmaster (Jones), is impressed with our hero’s talent but doubts whether he has “what it takes.” He, in turn, is taking heat from a superior who demands that he bring a championship to the school or else (in this case, the band program will be cut).
The movie’s numerous familiarities, like one subplot involving Devon’s strained relationship with his uninvolved father, are counterbalanced by the occasionally unique narrative elements, like Devon’s relationship with a cheerleader -- a more entertaining plot thread than might usually be found in these types of movies.
But more than anything, the climactic battle of the bands makes enduring the typical sports-movie plot worthwhile. It will probably have audiences recalling a comparable sequence in 8 Mile, in the sense that this one presents two skillfully extravagant performances with personalities of their own. This highly choreographed musical sequence combines talent with good old-fashioned attitude, and as the two drumlines compete, the viewer can sense the animosity and desire to win as drummers toss their snares aside to play on their opponents’. The directing for this sequence is brilliant, with good use of slow-mo and close-ups throughout the entire scene.
One thing that can be said of the film is that it does have a positive message, and in this way it’s part of a larger movement in films aimed at black audiences. If not for the painfully overused plot of a prodigy looking to expand his social horizons, Drumline could have been a smashing good time at the movies, in more ways than one.
all contents © 2002 Ed Malinowski