The Short Synopsis:
As a music lover, I was super excited for this film. I have always loved music biopics. And What's even more interesting is that everything from the student, to the teacher, to the short-lived girlfriend, to the world-class music school is completely made up. It's fiction at its finest. Here's a little background; The story takes place at a New York City music school and focuses in on Andrew Neimann. He's a 19-year-old dude who is killer on the drums and is desperate to become one of the greats. The road to #winning at Shafer School of Music is becoming a core player of the Jazz Band Ensemble. A man who is much scarier than Professor Snape decides the fate of this band. He recruits Andrew, but the process is brutal, shocking, and completely mesmerizing. There is blood in the world of jazz...who woulda thunk?
Acting:
Miles Teller was ROBBED I tell you! He should have received a best actor nomination at every award show this season. They way he portrays Andrew is beyond stupendous. He plays the drums with such force that it becomes an erratic and visual example of what it is to want something that bad. Andrew is willing to suffer more than anyone to reach perfection, but it's almost never enough for J.K Simmons (Who took home the Golden Globe and SAG Award for this role). Simmons plays Dr. Terrence Fletcher; he is so unbelievable in this role that during the movie, my sister whispered "He's monster!" He is a monster; he's so bad that it's sexy. Simmons dons all black, and his muscular arms do not go unnoticed especially when he motions his hands to halt anyone who isn't on his tempo. Also, Melissa Benoist from glee makes an appearance as Andrew's lady friend. Her role was small, but I liked its purpose. In this world of overly ambitious millennials, she states that she doesn't know what she wants to do yet. She hasn't selected a major, and that shouldn't be SO frowned upon. She'll figure it out guys. Anyhow I give the acting an A+++++.
Miles Teller was ROBBED I tell you! He should have received a best actor nomination at every award show this season. They way he portrays Andrew is beyond stupendous. He plays the drums with such force that it becomes an erratic and visual example of what it is to want something that bad. Andrew is willing to suffer more than anyone to reach perfection, but it's almost never enough for J.K Simmons (Who took home the Golden Globe and SAG Award for this role). Simmons plays Dr. Terrence Fletcher; he is so unbelievable in this role that during the movie, my sister whispered "He's monster!" He is a monster; he's so bad that it's sexy. Simmons dons all black, and his muscular arms do not go unnoticed especially when he motions his hands to halt anyone who isn't on his tempo. Also, Melissa Benoist from glee makes an appearance as Andrew's lady friend. Her role was small, but I liked its purpose. In this world of overly ambitious millennials, she states that she doesn't know what she wants to do yet. She hasn't selected a major, and that shouldn't be SO frowned upon. She'll figure it out guys. Anyhow I give the acting an A+++++.
The point:
In every creative career, there is a point where you almost reach perfection. Some force inside of you explodes, and there is a grace period where you can do no wrong. I've seen it in other people, and I've seen it inside myself. While J.K Simmons is an absolute Nazi in this film, he is pushing his students to find perfection. A complicated but powerful message comes with Whiplash. The bad teacher profoundly states that telling a person that they did a "good job" is the most harmful thing you can do. It stops them from thinking they need to go further. I also can't end this blog post without mentioning the fabulous music and drumming, I mean WOW. I never realized how beautiful drumming is, the swift moments, the gold flash of the symbols, and the 20 different bangs that come together as one. I mean really gorgeous, like OMG. Ok, go forth my friends, see this movie.
Later,
Sasha
