La tournée

I thought this movie was done pretty well. I saw the box in the video store, & noticed that it claimed it had original music written on the soundtrack written just for the film. I read the back of the box, & took it home. After seeing it once, I had to buy the soundtrack because "It couldn't be Ann" stuck in my head. I thought the movie was good, because it showed how four people who had nothing in common, came together through playing their own music. It felt real to watch, having been through it myself on a smaller level.

Watching these guys go from their drummer's garage to actually touring together, was fun. It also helped me to realize that if the guys I play with off & on went on the road in a van that size, we'd probably end up at each other's throats too. But, like Circus Monkey, no matter what would happen, it'd be worth it just to do it, period.

There were some inconsistencies. The bass player's amp/cabinet alone required two people to carry it (as seen when they steal it back from that dealer). So you're going to tell me that all of their instruments, amps, mikes, mike stands, & an entire PA to tour with fit in the very back of that van? Yeah, right. I can't fit my whole drum kit in my car! And where did they get the money for the van & PA to tour with? Oh well, why gripe, it's just a movie.

I honestly thought this was a pretty accurate portrayal of a band starting out realistically. They didn't just suddenly start playing arenas, & become a huge success. In fact, I really liked how they didn't end up selling out to Rival Records. It felt honest & real. Not everyone wants to be the next Spittle.

If you play, or have played in a garage band that's tried to play your own material, check this film out. And also buy the soundtrack, if only for the four original Circus Monkey tunes. They made me wish that there was an entire album of their music to buy. The liner notes are interesting too. The same group of guys that recorded the Circus Monkey tunes, also recorded the Spittle songs. What irony...

All in all, a pretty light & enjoyable film worth seeing if you've ever wanted to get out of the garage & get on stage.

Bandwagon is a movie that every young man who is a fan of Rock'n'Roll must watch. This is a great feel good film that will make anyone who watches it start a garage band. The music is superb and it is a testament to how bad radio is right now that some of the circus monkey songs received no airplay. Although this movie has several dubing mistakes and a few instances of poor acting, in the end you turn of the T.V. with a smile on your face.

When a bunch of guys hit the skids they decide to form a band. Led by Tony Ridge the neurotic song writer who can't handle playing infront of people they face an uphill battle. Starring a bunch of basically unheard of actors (with the possible exception of Kevin Corrigan) they deliver what arthouse and independant films are all about. But ultimately as the film says "It's all about the music" with an absolute killer soundtrack and great laughs all the way through this movie has got to be one of the best movies ever made in my opinion. If you love this movie but cannot find the soundtrack please email me and I'll try to help you out :)

It's very hard to comment on what for me personally is the greatest movie ever created but I'll give it a shot anyway.

"Bandwagon" is something of a comedy but it's got some romance and drama thrown in the mix as well. Actually the tag-line says it best - "Bandwagon" is a movie about a band. Four young man who have little in common are joined together by their love for music. It's exactly their incompatibility that most of the humor stems from. The jokes are all funny. Non of them will have you rolling on the floor with laughter but not one seems out of place. I wish there would be more comedies like this...

The movie deals with themes of love and commercialism, friendship and loneliness. Each of the four main character has his own demons. And each of the four characters will have to deal with them. As their journey through the auster reality progresses, some all our band members will experience a shift in values and viewpoints. Gradually they will be able to put aside their differences... but you'd be better off seeing that for yourself. Let's just say integrity is opposed to success in the industry and a choice is going to have to be made.

The movie isn't trying to be overly deep, but it doesn't need to be either. You won't find any symbolism that requires vast contemplating like you would in "Last Days" for instance but for me that has never been the mark of a good movie. Things here are kept on a understandable, human level which, however, in no way means that the movie is a no-brainer, so to speak.

The cast consists of unknowns only but John Schultz somehow manages to draw out an excellent performance out of them. Not a single character seemed forced, not a single line was delivered unconvincingly. On the contrary: all the characters seemed perfectly honest and real. It's like the actors were simply being themselves which might just be the truth. You see, Mr. Schultz is telling us a story that's been told a million times - X meets success, X is torn apart from a world that doesn't give a damn, X falls from grace (where X can be a band, an artist, an actor etc.). But "Bandwagon" tells that story in a much simpler, down-to-earth, and it the end believable way. We can all relate (especially those of us who have been in a band) - something that is missing from most movies out there. In light of that, I'm guessing, it was easy for the cast to get acquainted with their characters. By no means are they one-dimensional, however.

Like most movies about a band, "Bandwagon" has that quirky, neurotic front-man. Rather brilliantly portrayed by Lee Holmes, Tony is always perfectly believable, never going overboard (often happens in similar movies), yet retaining a sense of detachment from the world. He's not that out-of-control Jim Morrison from "The Doors", he's simply a little out there. Also unlike "The Doors", "Bandwagon" is a movie about a band, meaning that John Schultz never neglects his other characters in order to put more emphasis on the front-man. At this point I'm starting to think that the tag-line really does say it all but regardless I push on...

"The Connells" member Doug MacMillan also stars in "Bandwagon". I imagine that can be an extra incentive for their fans to go see this. He's Linus Tate, a mysterious and intriguing character who has acquired lots of wisdom over the years spent in the music business. Although I make him sound like an old Chinese guy from a Karate movie, I assure you he's got nothing to do with one of those.

The music in Bandwagon (much like everything else) is simply brilliant. Catchy indie-rock tracks that could have been hits, had they seen some airplay. Alas, the music industry doesn't care about good music.

John Schutlz... I'd rather not contemplate the reason why a man of his talent went on to direct such awful movies like "Like Mike" and "Drive Me Crazy". At least I have some comfort in the fact that he didn't write any of them with the exception of "When Zachary Beaver Came to Town" which I haven't seen (hopefully I will one day and more hopefully it will be OK).

I must admit that my review is by no means objective but it's hard to stick to the facts with a movie that means so much to me. This is one of the few flicks that brought me to tears without even aspiring to do so (*note: I don't cry to tearjerkers).

It's just a wonderful story told with honesty and zest. It's just a movie about a band, there's isn't much more to it really. And I think everyone out there can relate to it on some level.

The day after I saw this movie on TV I went to the DVD store to order it. Two days later they told me there is no DVD or VCD for this movie and that got me surprised. ''Bandwagon'' is such a simply-made, feel-good movie I wish to watch over and over again. The cute fairy-tale-like story with quite excellent original songs are the major plus points. There are a number of movies out there dealing with small-town garage bands achieving fame and fortune but... I don't know, this is somehow different. That's probably because the director John Schulz never showed Circus Monkey as a band with really talented musicians. All that happened to them just... happened. That's why I liked it so much, it never abandoned the indifferent attitude towards the characters and in most cases pointed out their follies rather than their musical skills.

There are drawbacks, if one wishes to point them out, like a bit unrealistic tour schedule or some weak dialogs at some times. But I think there's no point in finding out loopholes in these kind of films. These films are meant to please you and in that sense I have to say, the filmmakers did a pretty good job. The four band members, with different personalities are very well portrayed by the actors especially Lee Holmes as the lead singer Tony. The songs are quite better than average. I hummed "It Couldn't Be Ann" for at least a week thereafter. As a whole, one would never be disappointed on watching it. 4/5