Bandslam is surprising from beginning to end, which I will attribute to terrible marketing. I--and I think most people who saw the movie--was expecting some sort of cheesy Disney High School Musical battle of the bands movie made for tweens. What I got was a mature coming-of-age story about Will Burton (Connell) and Charlotte Banks (Michalka) that used music as a backdrop and texture for the whole film. The characters are written with intelligence and complexity and portrayed with intimacy and compassion.We start the movie assuming that Will is a quirky emo high schooler who's sensitive to bullying and obsessed with David Bowie. But as the movie progresses, we find that all of our assumptions are wrong. He is a rare breed of indie rock lover who truly understands music and is able to articulate his appreciation or distaste. Charlotte Banks is the former singer of their high school's popular band Glory Dogs. She befriends Will, but we cannot help but feel she is manipulating the situation for her own ulterior motives. Again we are proven wrong in a very surprising way. It might feel as if the movie is trying to trick you, but it's not. It presents these characters as they are and lets our own preconceived notions fill in the gaps with stereotypes.
The music is excellent. It is a perfect blend of catchy beats and meaningful lyrics. The directing is exceptional. It takes a solid script and adds emotional overtones through smart editing and cinematography choices. It mixes all the elements of a film together effortlessly to create a rich and full experience. I was wholly enveloped in their world: my heart would sink to the floor or be lifted up with each revelation. When I listen to the songs from the movie, they take on more meaning and emotion than most songs because of the events in the movie I associate with them. But the movie is not without its faults. It sometimes felt written and way too tidy for real life. Some parts seemed overwhelmingly improbable. On the whole, however, this movie was an unexpected treasure. I highly recommend it.
IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976222/