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Bandslam (2009)

Director: Todd Graff, Scott Porter

Time Out rating

Average user rating

13 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

The marketing for this film might make it look like a bad trawl through a ‘Fame’-meets-‘High School Musical’ dirge of unremitting awfulness, yet despite a join the-dots feelgood scenario and an overlong running time, Todd Graff’s ‘Bandslam’ turns out to be an unexpectedly pleasing treat for teenagers. Although ostensibly about preparations for a US college’s hotly contested Battle of the Bands tournament, the film’s real nucleus is the burgeoning will they/won’t they relationships that form between a nerdy teenage musicologist-cum-manager with a fixation on David Bowie (Gaelan Connell), a luscious Linda Ronstadt lookalike (Vanessa Hudgens) and a tall blonde bombshell (Alyson Michalka).

‘Bandslam’ is far from exceptional, but is saved by decent character development, a cluster of engaging performances and several amusing deadpan moments. Better still, a knowingly hip ‘School of Rock’ attitude to what constitutes good musical taste, coupled with a flock of seminal vintage and indie tunes, edge it towards something a little more agreeable than the majority of today’s generic, pop-laden teen romcoms. And besides, any film that ends with Wilco’s ‘What Light’ is fine in my book.

Author: Derek Adams

Time Out London Issue 2034, 13-19 August, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Weepie said...

Posted on Jul 27 2010 16:06 This amazing captures the interest of teenagers all over the world because of it's stellar casting, believable and imaginative storyline and it's true tribute to music. Throw in some beautiful direction, interesting set and a sparkling script, and you have one heck of a movie! Oh, sorry... I thought you were asking me to review School of Rock! Who is this terrible Vanessa IWannaBeMrsEfron Hudgens? Go away! Your dirtying my TV screen!

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hunnybee said...

Posted on Oct 01 2009 16:13 omg stop the arging this is supposed 2 be a film review site jeezo i loved the film btw

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twilight4eva said...

Posted on Sep 15 2009 16:37 soree

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Hannah said...

Posted on Sep 11 2009 13:14 Just leave me alone alright

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twilight4eva said...

Posted on Sep 10 2009 13:14 Just shut up ok!

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hannah said...

Posted on Aug 25 2009 13:10 Twilight4eva - u don't have any right to tell me my opinion is wrong. everyone is entitled to their own opinion and just because I don't agree with you it doesn't make me wrong. I still think that Bandslam is a great movie and I don't even like twilight. You can think what you like about bandslam but you shouldn't be critisising other peoples opinions

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caitlin said...

Posted on Aug 24 2009 13:36 I loved this film hi hannah! listen twilight4eva u obv like twilight and i do to but bandslam is brill sooo dont diss!

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twilight4eva said...

Posted on Aug 24 2009 13:34 This film woz crap u r wrong hannah i thought it woz awful!

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hannah said...

Posted on Aug 24 2009 13:30 I don't care what anybody said but I loved this film. Vanessa was good at acting and I would definetely(?) go and see this film again. I can't wait for it to come out on dvd and I think it should have done a lot better in the film charts than it actually did. i really want to go and see it again before it finishes and I know I am repeatng myself but I don't care
10/10 The best film I have seen this year

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india and georgia said...

Posted on Aug 22 2009 15:51 listen people who put bad comments about Bandslam.i thought it was great and it was funny . 11/10

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Rick said...

Posted on Aug 17 2009 22:47 Hey Freya, while you're watching that paint dry, you might want to grab a dictionary and see how some words are spelt.

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Matt said...

Posted on Aug 17 2009 03:13 Vanessa Hudgens has to be one of the cutest girls on the planet. Everything else about this film is mediocre. When you're three quarters of the way through the film and you can't see what the point of it is --- then something's wrong. The storyline (even with the light shed on it by what almost passes for a twist near the end) and in places the dialogue are contrived, even for a teen drama. Frankly this would be reasonably good TV delivered for free to your living room, but it's a bit poor for a trip to the cinema. I'd still say that it's towards the upper end of two stars, but given that all it can possibly be meant as is drama (it's not a comedy, for a start), this film really needed some proper plot and credible characters. Overall, this film isn't terrible - it's mildly entertaining - but it's woefully lacking in direction --- it's just not taking you anywhere in particular. A bunch of hyperangsty teens do their thing, and you're left thinking - so what? But OMG Vanessa Hudgens she is SOOOOOOO cute!

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Freya said...

Posted on Aug 12 2009 15:48 Saw this film this morning thought it was not very well thought out, im sorry but Vanessa Acting was appuling!! Would rather watch paint dry.

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