The music in Bang the Drum Slowly is absolutely fantastic, it not only accompanies the mood, but actually builds on top of it. The film is beautiful, even though not much really happens in it, and often feels like it is lacking of something to make it really go. Nevertheless, the it brings the audiences in by showing us the inner dynamics of a baseball club, and how one person could change it. It is both sad and funny that it requires someone to be on the heels of his life for others to truly "bang their drums", a beautiful and fitting analogy. Although Bruce Pearson isn't the brightest chap around, he is the character that unites the team when nobody believes in him. Robert De Niro plays the role perfectly and his persona shines through, though there are notable misshapes in the film as well.