Review of:Drumline (2003)
Director:Charles Stone III
Rating:PG-13 for innuendo and language
Starring:Orlando Jones, Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, Candace Carey, Jason Weaver
In North America football is the number one sport being watched almost religiously by millions each weekend as their favorite teams battle on the gridiron. In college it is much the same, but when it hits halftime it's all about the band. This is the premise behind the film Drumline as an exceptionally gifted drummer reaches out to take hold of his dream.
Devon Miles (Nick Gannon) from Harlem is the man, able to memorize difficult combinations on his first observation of the notes being played, he is headed for Atlanta A&T to battle for the top spot. The film focuses on his freshman year battling for the head position, and also trying to find himself in his new surroundings. Devon doesn't have much trouble fitting in or have a lack of confidence in his abilities, but he does have some serious problems that are visible just below the surface. These problems could have an effect on his team, as well stagnate his ability to grow in his craft. The film doesn't dig very hard to try to examine these problems with the main storyline being focused on the marching bands, and most noticeably the Drumline.
The band play is the focus of much of the film, and that is where it should be. The film easily gives you the feeling of being in the center of a big band, and with some very visible close ups it helps to bring out your own cheering spirit. The story is built along Atlanta A&T trying to finally capture the coveted Big Southern Classic win over their rival schools. With an instructor who has the students best interest in heart, but doesn't seem to have the necessary showboating requirements to lift the crowd out of the seats, they seem to be in big trouble. That is until bad-boy Devon shows up. In football terms he would be an All-American, but will he be allowed to unleash his talents?
This being his freshman year there is an adjustment period that he has to go through to find his own groove. Like many freshman he finds that he himself has deficiencies, and they aren't all of the book kind. For him to be able to uplift his band he has to deal with personal issues that he himself has.
On top of that Dr. Aaron Lee (Orlando Wilson) has some tough decisions to make as he finds out about Devon's troubles. Should he sacrifice his beliefs in educating his students or will pressure from above cause him to take a different approach?
The film will definitely have you rocking in your seat, and the story slowly gets better as the film goes on. The storyline is tame at best, and should have went much deeper into the character of Devon. It could have brought this story up onto another level instead of making it your slightly above average story.
