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Drumline

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Drumline (2002)

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Reviews Counted:81

Fresh:65

Rotten:16

Average Rating:6.7/10

Consensus: Essentially a sports movie with drums, the energetic Drumline somehow manages to make the familiar seem fresh.

Runtime: 2 hrs 7 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Charles Stone III's crowd-pleasing drama spotlights the previously unheralded world of university marching bands--more specifically, the cutthroat world that energizes Southern black campuses.... Charles Stone III's crowd-pleasing drama spotlights the previously unheralded world of university marching bands--more specifically, the cutthroat world that energizes Southern black campuses. Devon Miles (Nick Cannon) is a Harlem teenager who receives a full scholarship to attend Atlanta A&T University based on his excellent percussion talents. However, making the transition from hip-hop street drumming to the drumline of the school's legendary marching band is more challenging than Miles expected. For one, the band director, Dr. Lee (Orlando Jones), is determined to reclaim the national championship using old-school tactics, even though his traditional beliefs appear to be leaving A&T in the dust. And then there is Sean (Leonard Roberts), the current drum leader, who is threatened by Devon's skills and frustrated by his fierce individuality. These antagonistic forces, as well as the addition of a cheerleading love interest (Zoe Saldana), combine to test Devon's previously unshakeable confidence. As the season builds toward the BET Big Southern Classic and a showdown with rival Morris Brown University, Devon must swallow his pride and learn to be a team player if he wants his band to win the championship. DRUMLINE proves that any subject can make for an invigorating work of entertainment, if handled properly. [More]

Starring: Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, Orlando Jones, Leonard Roberts

Starring: Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, Orlando Jones, Leonard Roberts, GQ, Jason Weaver, Earl C. Poitier, J. Anthony Brown

Director: Charles Stone

Director: Charles Stone
Screenwriter: Tina Gordon Chism, Shawn Schepps
Producer: Wendy Finerman, Tim Bourne, Jody Gerson
Composer: John Powell
Studio: 20th Century Fox

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Drumline

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1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
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At times, Drumline is almost like the moments before an electrical storm - your hair stands on end; your heart beats faster because of the adrenaline rush; and your ears pop because of the pressure change in the air.

Full Review Source: 3BlackChicks Review | comment Comment
12/12/02
Kamal  'The Diva' Larsuel
Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel
3BlackChicks Review

Pretty formulaic stuff...but the specific setting...sets it apart.

Full Review Source: All Movie Guide | comment Comment
02/02/03
Josh Ralske
Josh Ralske
All Movie Guide

Its over-reliance on genre conventions, character types and formulaic conflict resolutions crushes all the goodwill it otherwise develops.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
12/17/02
Dan Jardine
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide

What the story lacks in surprise, it more than makes up for in flamboyance.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
12/13/02
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
12/13/02
Arizona Republic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
12/16/02
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Kimberly Jones
Kimberly Jones
Austin Chronicle

Perhaps it's cliche to call the film 'refreshing,' but it is. 'Drumline' shows a level of young, Black manhood that is funny, touching, smart and complicated.

Full Review Source: BET.com | comment Comment
12/13/02
James Hill
James Hill
BET.com

Drumline sags a little toward the middle ... But the final showdown is a skills-'n'-style spectacular that feels like vibrant outtake from a highly choreographed civil war.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
12/13/02
Wesley Morris
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
12/16/02
Boston Phoenix

Rife with nutty cliches and far too much dialogue.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
12/13/02
Tim Cogshell
Tim Cogshell
Boxoffice Magazine

Even if we've seen it before, it comes up fresh in this version.

Full Review Source: Charlotte Observer | comment Comment
12/13/02
Lawrence Toppman
Lawrence Toppman
Charlotte Observer

[Drumline] is entertaining for what it does, and admirable for what it doesn't do.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
12/13/02
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Drumline is a movie that treats its characters and audience with respect; it can't be accused of being a dumbed-down teen comedy.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
12/13/02
Mark Caro
Mark Caro
Chicago Tribune

Devon's story is affecting, but it is the action on the field that makes the movie something special.

Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | comment Comment
12/13/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

By the time its otherwise paint-by-numbers story reaches a finale, Drumline has made band seem cool -- no small feat in the wake of American Pie 2.

Full Review Source: Citysearch | comment Comment
12/13/02
Dan Fazio
Dan Fazio
Citysearch
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: CNN.com | comment Comment
12/16/02
Paul Clinton (CNN.com)
Paul Clinton (CNN.com)
CNN.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Drumline has plenty of opportunity to shift into sports-movie autopilot and resists it at every turn, valuing discovery over expectation.

Full Review Source: Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) | comment Comment
12/17/02
Mark Palermo
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Amazing! A college story that works even without vulgarity, sex scenes, and cussing!

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
12/20/02
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
all

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April 04, 2005: Nick Cannon to Write and Star in "Extra Protection"
More...

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