Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Bang the Drum Slowly 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 29, 2025

In the late 1960s and early ‘70s, Robert De Niro was like many actors in the game. He was hungry, eager to prove himself, hunting for any job he could get to add to his resume, allowing him to maintain momentum in the industry. 1973 was the year when everything changed for De Niro, breaking through big time with his turn in Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets,” detailing a tough side to the talent, backed by an exceptional filmmaker. There was also “Bang the Drum Slowly,” giving De Niro an opportunity to showcase his range, portraying a dying baseball player handling a friendship with his teammate. Director John Hancock oversees this tender study of partnership and trust, which is an adaptation of a book by Mark Harris (who also scripts), challenged to find the softness in male bonding and sporting achievements. “Bang the Drum Slowly” is a quiet picture with a love for character that sometimes derails its pacing, but the central relationship is compelling, watching two men deal with their emotions and the reality of mortality while handling the ups and downs of a baseball season.

Henry (Michael Moriarty) is a pitcher for the New York Mammoths, and his best friend is his catcher, Bruce (Robert De Niro), a simple man who’s happy to be in the big leagues. However, Bruce is sick, diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, with the pair recently returning from a stay at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to participate in spring training, though Henry has special contractual needs to work out before he decides to play, making sure to keep Bruce close as they embark on the season. Team manager Dutch (Vincent Gardenia) isn’t sure what Henry is hiding, trying to uncover the reason why the men were in Minnesota and why Henry is so protective of Bruce, doing whatever he can to expose the truth. Henry remains calm on the outside, handling his baseball responsibilities as the Mammoths endure a shaky start to the season, also managing insurance needs for the team, including Bruce, who wants to change the beneficiary on his policy, hoping to give everything to his girlfriend, Katie (Ann Wedgeworth). As the year unfolds, Henry starts to crack under pressure, realizing his pal’s health isn’t improving, and there’s nothing he can do about it.

Henry narrates “Bang the Drum Slowly,” offering viewers his thoughts on the situation with Bruce, who’s living a “doomed” life without fully recognizing it. The catcher is a simple man with a deep love for chewing tobacco, and he’s trying to keep his job with the Mammoths, as Dutch is juggling multiple catchers with different abilities. Medical issues are present, but the story initially follows Henry’s tensions with the Mammoths, pushing for a larger contract to meet his monetary demands, and he requests that Bruce remain with him at all times, even if it means a trip to the minor leagues. There’s a bond between the men that’s formed before we meet them, and “Bang the Drum Slowly” follows the strength of the friendship, as Henry is determined to protect his friend without letting him know the details of the pledge.

“Bang the Drum Slowly” isn’t really a baseball movie. Hancock tries to work with his limited budget to sell the movement of the game and the length of its season, but sporting achievements take a back seat to relationships. The team dynamic is understood, along with its peculiarities, as a substantial amount of screen time is spent on the playing of “Tegwar,” a scam card game played during down times. This aside is one of many in the writing, which creates a loose viewing experience as Hancock remains on performances, occasionally forgetting to maintain scenes. “Bang the Drum Slowly” has its meandering moments, most featuring Dutch and his longwinded ways. Gardenia is a magnificent actor, but the character isn’t vital to the tale, and his speeches and suspicions (including a suggestion that Bruce and Henry are secret lovers) tend to weigh down the picture. Far more interesting is Henry, who’s dealing with so much yet tries to remain calm and commanding, watching his buddy begin to fall apart, trying to protect his financial interests and maintain medical care without triggering panic.

Bang the Drum Slowly 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

"Bang the Drum Slowly" arrives on UHD, listed as a "new 4K restoration of its original 35mm camera negative, supervised by director John Hancock." It's a wonderfully film-like presentation for the endeavor, carrying heavy grain that's nicely resolved. Detail goes about as far as possible, capturing greasy skin particulars on the players, and costuming, including baseball uniforms, are fibrous, highlighting wear and tear as the season carries on. Exteriors are dimensional, exploring the expanse of ballparks and dugouts, along with some rural tours. Interiors are open for inspection, examining plenty of decorative additions in offices, locker rooms, and living spaces. Color is satisfactory, with a brighter appreciation of greenery. Team uniforms are distinct, with the Mammoths offers a sharp sense of black and white. Primaries are vivid at times, and softer hues in clubs and hotel are secure. Skin tones are mostly natural, with a few surges in redness. Blacks are deep throughout. Highlights are tasteful. Source is in good condition, with slight, brief discoloration at times.

Bang the Drum Slowly 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA delivers a straightforward listening experience. Dialogue exchanges are mostly secure, with some mild sibilance at times. Performance choices are intelligible, and quieter emotionality is preserved. Musical moods handle with clarity, including scoring selections, which deliver intended gentleness. Vocals also carry with authority.

Bang the Drum Slowly 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet collects essays by Noah Gittel, Glenn Kenny, and Dan Mecca.

• Commentary #1 features director John Hancock.

• Commentary #2 features movie critic Jim Hemphill.

• "Death at the Box Office" (11:44, HD) is an interview with director John Hancock, who describes his initial jump from theater to film, basically dealing with the same dramatic issues, only lacking technical expertise during his initial helming endeavors, including "Let's Scare Jessica to Death." Responding to the "great American story" in "Bang the Drum Slowly," Hancock was looking to make a "John Ford" picture, looking to break away from horror entertainment. The interviewee recalls his relationship with writer Mark Harris, who was eventually banned from the set by the producers for siding with Hancock during production disagreements. Trying to do something with a baseball picture during a time of unpopularity, Hancock recalls the creative effort to pull off a replication of the game. Casting achievements are highlighted, with De Niro emerging from the numbing audition process, and Hancock eventually favored the actor (who completely committed to the physicality of the part) over co-star Michael Moriarty.

• "The Early Films of Robert De Niro" (18:02, HD) is a video essay by Chris O'Neill.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included on this release.

Bang the Drum Slowly 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Bang the Drum Slowly" has a folksy vibe, helping to generate an atmosphere of male bonding as the team learns about Bruce's situation, creating a turn in sporting performance and humanity that carries throughout the film's second half. It's gentle work at times, also vividly performed by Moriarty and De Niro, who summon chemistry as Henry and Bruce navigate life challenges. Hancock prefers to stay gentle with the feature, which is appealing, and while distractions do come for the endeavor, the central relationship remains tender and dramatically challenging, allowing viewers to be pulled into a special crisis of honesty and protection that's not typically found in male-centric pictures.