Bandslam [PG]

Life for Will Burton is bleak, very bleak. Between his introverted nature, his snap judgments about people based on their tastes in music, and his regrettable past, making friends in high school just seems to not be available to him. But change begins to blow in the wind when he moves to New Jersey and somehow becomes the manager of an indie band of misfits. Discovering that he’s got a voice and an unfathomable knowledge of music Will begins to see, and more importantly, to like the person he really is. And with the help of two girls both also trying to find and appreciate themselves, Will creates a band that might just have a shot at winning the coveted music competition: Bandslam. 

To look at the cover it seems like a lame Disney-esque attempt at a modern teenage, hipster movie. But Bandslam is one of those films that leaves you really surprised when you see it. I wouldn’t have thought that I’d like this movie, at all. But my brother convinced me to give it a shot and, although as a sister I hate having to admit when he’s right, I have to give him credit where it’s due. This movie is special. It’s a wonderful little story about coming to terms with who one really is and trying to find one’s place in a world that’s floundering in individuality. At the same time, it’s a genuine and unexaggerated look at modern adolescent culture, in particular indie or hipster culture, and the way it’s done is just special. It’s fresh, smart, and cool… all very naturally. 

Life for Will Burton is bleak, very bleak. Between his introverted nature, his snap judgments about people based on their tastes in music, and his regrettable past, making friends in high school just seems to not be available to him. But change begins to blow in the wind when he moves to New Jersey and somehow becomes the manager of an indie band of misfits. Discovering that he’s got a voice and an unfathomable knowledge of music Will begins to see, and more importantly, to like the person he really is. And with the help of two girls both also trying to find and appreciate themselves, Will creates a band that might just have a shot at winning the coveted music competition: Bandslam. 

The film’s power really comes in the form of its characters, in particular the central three: Will, Sa5m (the 5 is silent), and Charlotte. Will is the reluctant hero, the oblivious cool guy and a comment on the changing meanings of the word ‘cool’ in modern society. It’s got to be said here that the ‘Age of the Nerd’ is now upon us, and people who are nerdish in terms of music, movies, whatever are all of the sudden considered to be really cool. As a bit of a film nerd myself, I can tell you that I’m loving being me right now and Will is the cinematic visualisation of this. Charlotte’s the gorgeous blonde ex-cheerleader and subculture chameleon whose refusal to answer the ‘whys’ brings a great level of ambiguity and intrigue to the film. Of course this ambiguity is also present in the character of Sa5m, a dark beauty, reformed stutterer, and bookworm with varying levels of quirkiness about her. 

The central theme of the movie, indeed the real story behind the whole thing, is one of identity and finding one’s place in the world. The band of misfits card is played to a most gorgeous effect in this film without exaggerated humour of any kind coming in a like an industrial bulldozer to clear native culture. That’s what makes this movie special to me. 

Starring Gaelan Connell, Aly Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, Scott Porter, Ryan Donowho, Charlie Saxton, Tim Jo, Elvy Yost, Lisa Kudrow and featuring a sneaky but anticipated cameo from David Bowie, Bandslam is a fantastic little movie filled with self-discovery, great music, drama, romance, and comedy. It’s one of those films that you think you know from the cover, but really you have no idea.