Drummer Boy Overview: A Stunning Movie That Misses a Beat
PLOT: Throughout the American Revolution, two brothers discover themselves on reverse sides of the warfare, whereas an enslaved lady fights for freedom and a household struggles to remain collectively.
REVIEW: I went into Drummer Boy anticipating an easy Revolutionary Struggle drama. Then the primary musical quantity began, and I spotted I had completely no thought what I’d signed up for. Someway, regardless of the sudden singing, I walked away fairly impressed. There’s a genuinely good film right here, even when it often will get in its personal approach.
The story follows brothers Jeremiah (Joel Smallbone) and Benjamin Clem (Lucas Leach). Jeremiah sides with the British, whereas Benjamin desires to battle for American independence regardless of an injured leg. Their opposing beliefs threaten to tear the household aside. In the meantime, Jeremiah turns into entangled with Woman Elizabeth (Beth Easdown) and Emmaline (India Brown), an enslaved lady looking for her freedom. It’s an Angel Studios manufacturing, so you possibly can in all probability guess the place a few of that is heading. Nonetheless, the journey shocked me greater than I anticipated.
First, Drummer Boy appears incredible. Beautiful cinematography, hanging places, and powerful manufacturing design promote the interval. Even the battle sequences have a powerful sense of scale. And in contrast to a number of the AI-enhanced battle sequences in one other movie *cough* Younger Washington *cough*, every little thing right here appears remarkably convincing. This by no means appears like an affordable manufacturing attempting to disguise its limitations.
Leach brings coronary heart to Benjamin, Brown provides Emmaline emotional weight, and Melora Hardin makes essentially the most of her position because the brothers’ mom. Smallbone commits absolutely to Jeremiah, though there’s one small distraction: the man is clearly in his 40s enjoying somebody I assume is in his 20s. Then once more, we’ve received dudes pushing 30 enjoying youngsters on Outer Banks, so what the heck do I do know?
My greater problem is that the titular drummer boy doesn’t all the time really feel like the principle character. Benjamin has an fascinating journey, however Jeremiah’s romantic and political issues hold taking middle stage. It’s a wierd selection when the film’s title factors us towards the youthful brother. What’s irritating is that his willpower to show himself, regardless of everybody treating his incapacity as a limitation, is well one of many movie’s strongest storylines. Each time the film returns to him, I discovered myself wishing we’d spent rather less time worrying about Jeremiah’s love life.
There’s additionally a scene the place Benjamin tries to show his drumming expertise to affix the troopers. I do know it’s imagined to be inspirational, however all I may take into consideration was Drumline. I half anticipated Nick Cannon to seem and problem him to a drum battle.
The musical numbers are simply essentially the most divisive a part of Drummer Boy. Some work, particularly after they let the actors specific one thing the dialogue can’t. Others virtually announce the characters’ emotions in big neon letters. The lyrics are painfully on the nostril, and there’s solely a lot earnestness one film can get away with.
Worse, a lot of the soundtrack has that stomp-clap-HEY! sound that was in all places about ten years in the past. You realize precisely what I’m speaking about. It’s not essentially dangerous music. I imply, it’s to me, anyway. Nevertheless it feels weird towards the backdrop of the American Revolution. I stored wishing the filmmakers would belief the drama as a substitute of interrupting it with one other anthem. And sure, “The Little Drummer Boy” turns up, even though the tune wasn’t written till 1941. Yeah, I’m that a lot of an a** that I fact-checked it. Then once more, A Knight’s Story used David Bowie’s “Golden Years,” and that film rocks. So, I’ll give this one a move. However I received my eye on you, Angel!
Talking of music, somebody also needs to name New Order, as a result of there’s a weird love triangle happening between Jeremiah, Woman Elizabeth, and Emmaline. The relationships may have added complexity, however they typically result in cringeworthy dialogue. It’s particularly irritating as a result of Emmaline’s battle for freedom is much extra compelling than Jeremiah’s romantic issues. There’s one thing fascinating a couple of nation combating for its independence whereas denying that very same freedom to others, and I want the film explored that contradiction a little bit extra
At practically 130 minutes, the film tries to juggle an excessive amount of. Between the warfare, the household battle, romance, slavery, religion, and songs, it feels overstuffed. A tighter script may have made the strongest moments land more durable. Nonetheless, I respect what Joel and Ben Smallbone achieved. Drummer Boy was a labor of affection years within the making, and their private expertise with disagreements and reconciliation provides the story added that means.
The central message is that opposing political views shouldn’t mechanically destroy a household. Because the film sees it, loving each other and sharing a love for Jesus ought to matter greater than which aspect you’re on. That’s a well timed thought, even when the movie typically delivers it with the subtlety of a marching band. The sincerity will get tacky, certain. However I’d quite watch filmmakers who genuinely imagine of their materials than a film that’s afraid to really feel something.
All jokes apart, for all its issues, Drummer Boy shocked me. It’s superbly shot, well-acted, and extra formidable than I anticipated. In actual fact, I’d put it amongst Angel Studios’ finest motion pictures. The songs and romance typically harm what may have been a terrific historic drama, however there’s nonetheless a stable movie beneath.
In case you love this explicit type of Christian pop, you’ll in all probability get pleasure from it greater than I did. As for me, I appreciated the trouble, admired the craftsmanship, and simply wished somebody had often put down the drumsticks.
