VOD film review: The Beat Beneath My Feet
Review Overview
Cast
8Music
8David Farnor | On 20, Jul 2015
Director: John Williams
Cast: Nicholas Galitzine, Luke Perry
Certificate: 15
The Beat Beneath My Feet follows a teenage boy, Tom (Galitzine), who discovers that his nightmare new neighbour, Steve (Perry), is actually a former rock star in hiding. Wanting to become a musician himself, Tom begs Steve for secret lessons ahead of his school’s battle of the bands.
Will Steve say yes? How will his single mum react when she finds out the man next door she dislikes is bonding with her son? Will Tom enter the battle of the bands? And what about that other musician girl in his school he has a crush on?
The narrative of John Williams’ brilliant drama could easily follow the same tired beats, but the movie drums up a rhythm all of its own. And that stems directly from the soundtrack. Directed by a guy who knows his music videos – Williams has worked with Radiohead and Coldplay – Tom’s songs take over the whole screen with vibrant animation, backed up by Nicholas Galitzine’s fantastic voice. When he’s not singing, Nicholas is equally charming, his downbeat demeanour and awkward relationship with his mum (an understated Lisa Dillon) both immediately convincing.
Luke Perry will be the big draw for many, following his role as 90s heartthrob Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills 90210, and he doesn’t disappoint, enjoying his role as the grouchy mentor while still finding time to show a sympathetic side. More importantly, though, he’s a generous performer, bringing out the laughs in Michael Muller’s script but still allowing Galitzine to shine in the lead.
The result is a toe-tapping indie that, thanks to its catchy soundtrack and sincere heart, is an infectious number with a tempo that sets it apart from the coming-of-age crowd. The film premiered at the Raindance Film Festival in September, where it sold out the final weekend of the festival, but after a tour of UK cinemas, it has now arrived on DVD and digital – a welcome chance for an indie film to find the wide audience it deserves. It is, quite simply, lovely.
