Film review: 'Bandwagon'
NEW YORK -- John Schultz's debut feature is an entertaining look at the contemporary music scene and the travails that a struggling garage band must go through on the road in order to make it.
Although more of an industry calling card than a candidate for significant specialized boxoffice, this breezy, lighthearted work reveals talent both in front of and behind the camera. Still, as "That Thing You Do!" illustrated, audience interest in such music-themed pics seems to be minimal.
"Bandwagon" follows the adventures of Circus Monkey, a group of ragtag musicians who have taken it on the road throughout the South to make their reputation.
The band consists of Tony (Lee Holmes), the high-strung lead vocalist and songwriter; Eric (Steve Parlavecchio), the bass player, who would just as soon get into a fight as play music; Charlie (Matthew Hennessey), the long-winded drummer, and Wynn (indie stalwart Kevin Corrigan), the neurotic guitarist.
Shepherding the band through their paces is Linus Tate (Doug MacMillan, also the lead singer for the band the Connells), who plays a little-known rock "legend" with an uncanny feel for talent and what it takes to get ahead.
The film follows the band through their haphazard formation and their adventures on the road in a series of episodes that vary in credibility and which follow the generic formula for similarly themed pics, but director and screenwriter Schultz has a good sense of characterization and a knack for realistic-sounding yet quirky dialogue, and he has captured the atmosphere of the indie rock scene with accuracy and affection. Even more impressive is the music, which is quite catchy and would not be out of place on the MTV playlist.
BANDWAGON
Cinepix Film Properties
Director, screenplay John Schultz
Producers Alyson Poole, John Schultz
Co-producer Michael Shevloff
Director of photography Shawn Maurer
Editor John Pace
Music John Kendall
Color/stereo
Cast:
Wynn Knapp Kevin Corrigan
Tony Ridge Lee Holmes
Charlie Flagg Matthew Hennessey
Eric Ellwood Steve Parlavecchio
Linus Tate Doug MacMillan
Running time -- 99 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Although more of an industry calling card than a candidate for significant specialized boxoffice, this breezy, lighthearted work reveals talent both in front of and behind the camera. Still, as "That Thing You Do!" illustrated, audience interest in such music-themed pics seems to be minimal.
"Bandwagon" follows the adventures of Circus Monkey, a group of ragtag musicians who have taken it on the road throughout the South to make their reputation.
The band consists of Tony (Lee Holmes), the high-strung lead vocalist and songwriter; Eric (Steve Parlavecchio), the bass player, who would just as soon get into a fight as play music; Charlie (Matthew Hennessey), the long-winded drummer, and Wynn (indie stalwart Kevin Corrigan), the neurotic guitarist.
Shepherding the band through their paces is Linus Tate (Doug MacMillan, also the lead singer for the band the Connells), who plays a little-known rock "legend" with an uncanny feel for talent and what it takes to get ahead.
The film follows the band through their haphazard formation and their adventures on the road in a series of episodes that vary in credibility and which follow the generic formula for similarly themed pics, but director and screenwriter Schultz has a good sense of characterization and a knack for realistic-sounding yet quirky dialogue, and he has captured the atmosphere of the indie rock scene with accuracy and affection. Even more impressive is the music, which is quite catchy and would not be out of place on the MTV playlist.
BANDWAGON
Cinepix Film Properties
Director, screenplay John Schultz
Producers Alyson Poole, John Schultz
Co-producer Michael Shevloff
Director of photography Shawn Maurer
Editor John Pace
Music John Kendall
Color/stereo
Cast:
Wynn Knapp Kevin Corrigan
Tony Ridge Lee Holmes
Charlie Flagg Matthew Hennessey
Eric Ellwood Steve Parlavecchio
Linus Tate Doug MacMillan
Running time -- 99 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 9/12/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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