Drumline

2002 Drama

Drumline brings the world of "show-style" marching bands (popular at traditionally black, Southern colleges) to the big screen for the first time. The story, by Shawn Schepps, was inspired by the high school drumline experiences of executive producer/executive music producer Dallas Austin. Devon (Nick Cannon of Nickelodeon's The Nick Cannon Show) is a Harlem drummer who earns a full scholarship to the fictional Atlanta A&T University. There, his talent gets the attention of the school's embattled musical director, Dr. Lee (Orlando Jones), who puts his students' education and appreciation for musical tradition ahead of the marching band's popularity. Devon's brashly egotistical attitude doesn't endear him to Lee, whose slogan for the band is "One band, one sound," or to the drumline's disciplined captain, Sean (Leonard Roberts, late of TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Devon has more success with the dance captain of the marching band, Laila (Zoe Saldana, who played a ballet dancer in Center Stage), a Southern belle who's won over by Devon's confidence. Sean feels threatened by Devon's talent, and his attitude, so when he learns that Devon can't read music, he uses the information to his advantage. With the band facing their archrival at a huge marching band competition, Dr. Lee has to decide whether to allow the brilliant drummer to perform, despite his attitude. Devon has to prove that he can show his skills while still being part of the team. Drumline was directed by Charles Stone III (Paid in Full), and features cameo appearances by musical artists Blu Cantrell and Petey Pablo. more..

Director: Charles Stone III

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

Reviews

  • Does more than capture the excitement of marching bands; it gets their clockwork beauty as well.

    Owen Gleiberman - Entertainment Weekly

    19 January 2013

  • Every holiday season needs a pleasant surprise, and this year it's Drumline. This entertaining and enthusiastically told tale shrewdly energizes its way-familiar plot line by setting it amid one of the greatest and least-known spectacles in American sports.

    Kenneth Turan - Los Angeles Times

    19 January 2013

  • Shakes, rattles and rolls the house, building to a climax that makes you almost forget you're in a movie theater and not a football stadium at halftime.

    Michael O'Sullivan - The Washington Post

    19 January 2013

  • Entertaining for what it does, and admirable for what it doesn't do. It gets us involved in band politics and strategy, gives us a lot of entertaining halftime music, and provides a portrait of a gifted young man who slowly learns to discipline himself and think of others. That's what it does. What it doesn't do is recycle all the tired old cliches.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    19 January 2013

  • These aren't the marching band songs of your father's or mother's generation but a musical expression that is modern and exciting to watch.

    Jonathan Curiel - The San Francisco Chronicle

    19 January 2013

Awards

  • Best Actor

    BET Awards (2003)

     
  • Best Breakthrough Performance - Viewer's Choice

    Black Reel Awards (2003)

     
  • Outstanding Motion Picture

    Image Awards (2003)

     
  • Best Kiss

    MTV Movie Awards (2003)

     
  • Best Sound Editing in a Feature - Music - Musical

    Motion Picture Sound Editors (2003)