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Bandslam
Rating: 8/10
Cast:
Aly Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, Gaelan Connell, Lisa
Kudrow
Director: Todd Graff
In the interests of full disclosure, let's just get this out in the
open.
Bandslam has a character called Sa5m. No, that's not a typo. I'll
type it again for good measure.
Sa5m. The 5 is
silent.
Although this made me die a little on the inside with its
affectedness, the truth is that teenagers
are affected.
Sa5m also speaks in a monotone as "emotion is overated." Ah, to be
young again...
But I digress. Bandslam tells the story of teen
music-lover Will (Gaelan Connell), who writes to David Bowie every
day and is bullied mercilessly at school.
Upon relocating to a new high school, Will finds himself torn
between his crush on fellow band member and popular girl
Charlotte (Aly Michaela), and his blossoming friendship with the
socially awkward Sa5m (Vanessa Hudgens).
Part teen movie, part tribute to indie music, Bandslam surprises
with its genuine observations of both teen coming-of-age, and the
music scene.
Newcomer Gaelan Connell as Will, and Aly Michalka as Charlotte both
deliver a heartfelt performance, and Lisa Kudrow is a delight as
Will's mum.
Hudgens, on the other hand, is somewhat miscast as Sa5m.
Originally she auditioned for the role of popular-girl
Charlotte, and I can't help thinking this would have been
a better fit. Hudgens has said she channelled Wednesday Adams
in order to portray Sa5m, and although this comes through,
ultimately she is not convincing as an indie alternative
outcast.
However, this is a small niggle in a film that overall is hugely
enjoyable.
Bandslam manages to be genuinely funny for most of its running
time. Peppered with musical jokes, it's hard to pick out a
favourite: the bassist who thinks he's Flea; the rival band who
play just like the typical teenage garage band (everyone knows
loud + fast = better); and Will's band's publicity photo shoot are
stand out moments.
Unintentionally funny is the horrendous ska version of Bread's
"Everything I Own," Vanessa Hudgens' musical number which made my
ears bleed. Thank goodness the rest of the music is of better
quality, with several hugely talented unsigned Texan bands cameoing
in the final climactic 'Battle of the Bands' scenes.
Also right on the money was the homage to CBGB's - the
punk/rock'n'roll institution in NYC, closed in 2006 but recreated
perfectly for this movie.
In the end, this teen movie sticks to the genre - outcast boy
finds himself and gets girl - but its moments of truth lift it
above the rest.
