Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.5 |
| Video |  | 4.5 |
| Audio | | 4.5 |
| Extras |  | 2.0 |
| Overall |  | 4.0 |
Drumline Blu-ray Movie Review
March on out and add 'Drumline' to your Blu-ray collection.
Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 26, 2009
Halftime is game time!
Drumline is a sports movie at heart, the field of play a regulation-sized football field, the
participants donning their school's colors, in full uniform, and competing against the best talent in
the nation. However, they do not march towards the end zone, wield a baseball bat, or play
perimeter
defense; instead, they march to the beats of a drum, wave their drumsticks in the air, and
defend
their honor against those that would show them up, those that would challenge them to be
recognized as the best. Drumline hits all of the Sports movie clichés, featuring the raw
youngster with a million-dollar talent but a ten-cent head; differences between coach and talent;
jealousy towards the talent from another talented drummer; the
budding romance with a rough patch in the middle of the movie; the talent's dismissal from the
team; and his glorious return to try and win the day during the big game, or in this case, the final
showdown between the drum lines of two rival schools. While Drumline may not offer
anything new, it's just a blast to watch, clichés and all. The movie embraces the clichés, puts a
bit of a different spin on them, and is unique enough, particularly thanks to the amazing
choreography and pitch-perfect music, all of which make the movie not only watchable, but
entertaining
from beginning to end.
You'll drum your eye out, kid!
Hotshot marching band drummer Devon Miles (Nick Cannon,
Day of the Dead)
has earned a band scholarship to Atlanta A&T University. Devon soon learns that the life
of a band
member at the school is not all that different from other athletic programs. Tardiness, excuses,
and poor performances are not tolerated; morning practices are the norm, and each student is
expected to come together as a part of the team, leaving little room for individual glory. Devon is
one of the most talented drummers the school has ever seen, impressing his classically-trained
coach Dr. Lee (Orlando Jones,
Office Space), but
engendering a feeling of jealousy in his section leader, Sean Taylor (Leonard Roberts, TV's
"Heroes"). While Devon
impresses with his skills, he disappoints with a questionable attitude, a "me first" approach, a
short fuse, and perhaps most detrimental to his future as a drummer at the school, a lie about
his musical background. Devon is kicked off the team, but works hard to change his attitude with
the help of his newfound love interest, Laila (Zoë Saldana,
Star Trek, 2009), all the while
being
courted by a rival school. With the final competition, the Big Southern Classic, on the horizon,
will Devon's attitude change for the better, and will his style have any influence on Dr. Lee and
Sean, helping them come up with a plan to end the day as the top band?
Drumline may not be close to the best movie ever made, but it is certainly better than
average. It's sort of like the little movie that could, taking a group of little-known actors, a slice
of
American sport and heritage that isn't popular in every corner of the country, a clichéd story,
and a
predictable script, and still managing to make a pretty decent movie out of what it has to work
with, one that is entertaining, fun
to
listen to, and a blast to watch, particularly for the choreography and intensity of the band
competitions. Likewise, the film's romance never feels forced or dishonest; the characters have
good chemistry, deal with real issues, and share what plays as a genuine attraction and
admiration for one another. The same may be said of the friendships; the band does come
together, and despite
disagreements, they remain a family, one of the key ingredients to a successful drum line.
According to the movie, it is the sound of the line -- not that of a single drum -- that
differentiates a solid performance and a championship-caliber band.
Though there are messages in the film about the importance of honesty, friendship, loyalty, and
integrity, it's not an overtly message-laden film. It's not even much of a feel-good movie;
Drumline is just good, hearty entertainment that pleases the palate, goes down smooth,
and is easy to digest.
Helping the film along are a few solid performances, particularly from Nick Cannon and Orlando
Jones. While the script may feature many clichés, one area where it shies
away from doing so is in the dramatic interplay between several of its main characters. Though
the characters are not at all unique, their interactions generally are. The film features far more
soul-searching and honest disagreement rather than an abundance of arguing, foul language, or
tired-back-and-forth exchanges that are far too hostile and unproductive. First and
foremost, Cannon's portrayal of Devon seems spot-on. Devon is a good kid, perhaps too cocky,
but he possesses the skill to back it up. He harbors a secret, but not maliciously. He comes off as
a stand-up guy for the most part, not always truthful, but not always sure of the difference
between absolute right and absolute wrong. Part of that may go back to the shaky relationship
with his father that the film only hints at, a relationship that, to the film's detriment, doesn't
come full-circle, but only three-quarters of the way. Though it would have added another cliché
to the list, his father's absence during the finale seems like a wasted opportunity. Orlando
Jones's character is the complete opposite of Devon; he's a traditionalist, concerned with the art
of the band, the history of the music, and definitely cares about the stringent rules and the ability
to not only play, but understand the music, the legacy, and the purpose. To him, it's not about
showboating, but rather professionalism and integrity. Of course, the opposing personalities
clash,
and each will have to come part way to make the band a success. Again, an angle as old as time,
it seems, but one that
Drumline embraces well.
Drumline Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Drumline marches onto Blu-ray with a vibrant 1080p presentation framed inside its original
2.35:1 window. As usual, Fox has brought another film to Blu-ray with a quality picture that
immediately screams "cinema" in its quality. It's another transfer that recreates the look of film at
home, and while not perfect, it certainly does represent a high quality image. Grain is intact, but
not
noticed in abundance. Colors are bright and numerous, adding plenty of pop to the image. Detail is
generally high, and extraordinary here and there; take a look in chapter 12, in the tunnel before
the band's first halftime performance. The detail on the uniforms, and the headpieces in particular,
is particularly stunning, as the textures of the clothing, the fine details of the hats, and the bright
colors of the uniforms make for scrumptious eye candy, these visuals only eclipsed by the awesome
sound that soon follows. A few select shots look a bit rough, and go a little soft, but it seems more
a result of the film itself and not any transfer issues. Black levels are rock solid throughout and
flesh tones never waver. All in all, Drumline represents another quality presentation from
Fox.
Drumline Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
Drumline throws out the beats on Blu-ray with an impressive DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless
soundtrack. A fine sound presentation is obviously crucial to a film about marching bands, and
Drumline doesn't disappoint. The film opens with a nice sense of being in a graduation
ceremony, reproducing both the echoing voices that travel through the soundstage and the beats
of the instruments that come through loud, clear, and thoroughly enjoyably. The rattling of a
subway car off in the distance and the voices of the intercom in an underground subway station
as Devon visits his father once again make for a pleasing, realistic atmosphere. The track seems
to sometimes lack in volume at reference levels, particularly during the more mundane
segments. Nevertheless, it positively shines where needed, during the marching band segments.
There is nothing artificial or less-than wholly satisfying here, the experience is that of being at a
live performance. The crowd noise is drowned out a bit in favor of the music, but it sounds
absolutely fabulous. The highs, midrange, and lows all come together for some of the finest
sound presentations yet on Blu-ray, particularly those that are completely musically oriented.
Drumline goes to show Blu-ray audio is not all about explosions and gunfire; it sparkles
here, perhaps even more so than most of the action extravaganzas. There is an uncanny sense
of feeling like part of the band, or at least standing in the midst of it. Each instrument is heard
cleanly and precisely, and the attuned ear will likely be able to differentiate each one. This
soundtrack represents one of the finer listens available on the format.
Drumline Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Drumline debuts on Blu-ray with a decent selection of supplements. The film is available in
both its theatrical cut and an extended version. The first supplement is a feature-length
commentary track with director Charles Stone III, available only with the theatrical edition of the
film. The director runs through the gamut of all the expected material, delving into his reasons for
the look of the film, shooting locations and schedule, the performances of the actors, anecdotes
from the set, and more. It's a rather standard track, neither all that memorable nor unlistenable.
Fans of the film might want to give it a listen, though only if they have two hours to kill.
Half-Time Heroes (480p, 14:02) takes viewers into the history of marching band, the
passion and energy enjoyed by those who participate, the various styles of music performed, the
intense practices, the dance routines, and how the film has impacted the marching band
community. The Real Battle of the Bands (480p, 9:01) examines the intensity and
importance of the real marching band competitions that take place in Atlanta. Anatomy of a
Drumline (480p, 9:28) combines a bit of making-of information with a look at what makes a
drum line tick. This set of special features concludes with four standard definition deleted scenes
with optional director commentary and the film's theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:08).
Drumline Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Drumline is forgettable, yes, and other than the marching band sequences, not all that
noteworthy, but it clicks, and while it's on, it makes for a good time. The film features good
performances, a decent story, and several important, but not in-your-face, messages on the value
of loyalty, honesty, integrity, and friendship. Drumline delivers as a drama about a slice of
entertainment that sometimes goes overlooked, taken for granted, and forgotten to history. For
that reason alone, it's worth a watch, and thankfully it manages to fill in the remainder of the
blanks and make for a solid all-around movie. 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray presentation of
Drumline is a good one. Both the picture and sound sparkle, and several supplements
round out an impressive package. For a solid two hours of entertainment, there may be better
options, but don't rule out Drumline the next time the mood strikes for something a little
different. Recommended.
