BAND SLAM
US, 2009, 111 minutes, Colour.
Gaelan Connell, Alyson Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, Lisa Kudrow.
Directed by Todd Graff.
A cheerful teen-aimed musical that parents might be glad of since it urges youngsters to have some aims in life, develop self-esteem (and get over themselves as much as they can). It is very PGish (and was co-produced by Walden Media which aims for wholesome entertainment) in its approach to relationships, to sexuality and language.
It is also just a variation on the 'putting on a show against all odds' musical. This time it is a band competition for high schools in the New York, New Jersey area.
To cheer up the parents who watch the film, the plot has the young central lead, Will (Gaenor Connell) continually composing letters of admiration and self-revelation to David Bowie – who then appears as himself at the end of the film.
Will's father is in jail for manslaughter while driving under the influence. His loving mother works and tries to compensate for his father. (She is played by Lisa Kudrow.)
Will is a walking encyclopedia on contemporary music, bands and groups and has an ear for how instruments can work to best effect in a band. When he moves with his mother from being bored and bullied in Cincinatti to New Jersey, he soon meets an eccentric fellow-student, Sa5m – the 5 is silent - (Vanessa Hudgens from the High School Musical movies) and is invited by a senior student (Aly Machika) to help her in a child care centre as well as give advice for her rag-tag band who are competing in the Bandslam competition against another group from the school, headed by the arrogant jock and Charlotte's former boyfriend.
Needless to say, Will changes with friendship, initiatives, doing a project in the Human Relationships course with Sa5m, and with the progress of the band with the help of classical musicians on piano and viola and a brass section. It is hard to anticipate how the obstacles will come up since most characters are so nice. But, they do in a momentary panicking way but because people are so nice, it all works out, especially with a grand finale performance.
The latest in the list of films about youngsters putting on a show.
1.The ‘show must go on’ genre? 21st century variation? Youth-oriented? Youth problems? The positive perspective on characters and issues?
2.Cincinnati, the school, homes? The contrast with New Jersey, school, homes? The band? A sense of realism?
3.The music selection, the excerpts? Will’s knowledge of music? His understanding of instruments, the way that they blended together to produce the sounds?
4.Will, his age, background? The device of his composing letters to David Bowie? Bullied at school? His absent father, making up stories? His relationship with his mother? Wanting to move? His being sick of being humiliated?
5.Karen, the background of her marriage and her explanation? Her husband, his drinking, in jail for driving under the influence and manslaughter? Her love for her son? Work, moving, the job with the animals, with the dogs?
6.Will, the new school, the encounter with Sa5m? His reaction to her, her gothic touch? In class, the various types in the school? Sa5m and her explanation of the various groups in the school (as in Mean Girls)? The various music groups? The school jock? Sa5m and her explanations?
7.Charlotte, attractive, talking to Will? Persuading him to come to look after the children? Her work with them? The sleeping supervisor? Her band, in the past with Ben Wheatly? Her own band, the odd types who played with her? The practices? Inviting Will to be her adviser? Ben Wheatly’s reaction? Her saying that Will was their manager? The rehearsals? Will and his feedback to each of the group? His amplifying the band – the girl with the cello, the girl with the piano, the brass from the marching group? The songs?
8.The effect of this on Will, his character, relating to people? Explaining it to his mother?
9.The project for class, human relations? The various presentations – rap, the comments on the other characters? The build-up to Will and Sa5m and their presentation?
10.The invitation to go out with Sa5m, to see Evil Dead 2? Charlotte and the ticket for Burning House? His going, enjoying it? Sa5m, the preparation, unhappy with Will? Will’s visiting her home, meeting her mother, seeing the video of her singing?
11.The project, the photography, Will editing it, his apology to Sa5m? Her comments on him – unknowable?
12.Charlotte, her father’s illness, the grief at his death? Her anger, the funeral, refusing to talk to Will? The explanation of her change of character in order for her father to live? Her disillusionment?
13.The decision to continue with the entry into the competition, the two bands from the same school, the other band and Ben Wheatly? Going to the contest?
14.The song, Charlotte singing it, their decision to use it, Charlotte’s support? Ben Wheatly and his stealing their song?
15.The improvisation, Will having to go on stage, the group insulting and chanting? His technique of joining in – and their applause?
16.The performance, Sa5m stepping into the singing role? Their success – not winning the competition?
17.David Bowie at the end, the letter to Will, the invitation to him and his group? The fulfilment of ambitions? Better relationships? The fulfilment of hopes?
