Whiplash [Blu-ray]

The name "Fletcher" kept bothering me during this movie--it's the name of the protagonist of "Mutiny on the Bounty" (a story about a merciless tyrant on the high seas); it's also the name the actress playing the heartless, sadistic nurse who provokes mutiny among the inmates in a mental institution ("One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"); finally, it's the in-your-face, ultimately unpardonable, decapitating fraud posing as a "tough love" teacher in "Whiplash." And it is Fletcher (J.K. Simmons)--not Andrew, the aspiring jazz drummer (Miles Teller)--who is at once most intoxicated and self-deluded by the iconic name and reputation of Buddy Rich.The stories about "Traps, the Boy Wonder" havge, throughout my entire life, focused less on his undeniable talent than on things like his firing half the band minutes before a job because the musicians appeared with mis-matched socks. Then there are the notorious "Buddy tapes," recorded surreptitiously by band members on the bus. They reveal an egomaniacal martinet, capable of erupting with streams of withering profanity directed at some outmatched, hapless, underpaid young musician who is fired on the spot, then ejected from the bus to fend for himself in the hot Nevada desert.At its heart, "Whiplash" is nothing more than a young man's rite-of-passage story with a Disney-esque ending. What separates it from other films are some brutal truths about instrumental music and jazz . 1. Andrew has no illusions about the price of being the best. Say goodbye to friends, marriage, relationships because in order to be like Bird or Buddy, you'll need to sacrifice your whole life to your ax, 24/7, no short cuts (so much for garage bands); 2. The competitive pressure is so intense and the chance of a single career-ending misstep is so great that either can lead to self-destruction on the way up and even after you become top drummer with the Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestra; 3. The final otherwise predictable scene (kid defies all the odds, comes back from abject failure and near death to perform the world's fastest drum solo) is perhaps the best-filmed / edited / mixed instrumental solo yet (a big plus when you consider that the general population is not merely clueless about jazz but instrumental music in general.Those three things may not make it a great film, but it's exceptional simply by their inclusion. To get to them, the viewer will need to tolerate a whoppers such as these: 1. How many teachers today can get away with repeatedly throwing lethal objects--cymbals, chairs, etc.--at their students? And that failing, how many can practice tough love to the extent it drives kids to commit suicide? 2. Since when is music an athletic competition about who's the fastest? (It's hard to recall a single swinging moment in the movie. Where's the "chic" of the high-hat's off-beats? 3. Since when does being the fastest, or even the best, drummer, make you a mega-star (or even guarantee an income stream?). Instrumentalists, and jazz musicians in general, are not paid like rock stars.The film begins to make more sense when you see the teacher--not Andrew--as the one who's suffering from delusions of grandeur because of Buddy Rich. It's not Buddy's reputation as a drummer but as an mean, foul-mouthed leader continually berating his musicians that's most relevant to the story (for those of us who know the score). But Buddy did not adopt that persona until late in his career, when he began traveling with his own band of young kids half his age. Most were clueless about Buddy's accomplishments (star of the annual Jazz at the Philharmonic series; house drummer at Verve records for a host of jazz greats). He knew he could not rely upon his distant reputation as a drummer to get the respect that was his due: instead, he chose to become their worst nightmare, terrorizing them in return for their fearful serious regard. His tough-talking ways were as much about his own survival as "shaping up" his young troops.The movie's Fletcher is a hard-nosed, nasty and mean, knucklehead who, as we see in the scene where the disgraced Fletcher is "reduced" to playing tepid piano in a jazz club, remains a captive of his own ego, rationalizing his narcissistic exhibitionism as for the good of promising students like Andrew (who's gullibiltiy at this point must be shared by the audience for the movie to work its formulaic "boy makes good" magic. Nevertheless, J.K. Simmons' Fletcher reveals, even during the expertly edited drum solo, that remains a one-dimensional character who, even after his disgrace and ejection from the musical conservatory, is a vindictive, resentful teacher, continually throwing off his coat to display a well-buffed hard body to go along with his megalomaniacal temperament. Had the script allowed him to undergo a transformation in his own views about music, teaching and learning, the film might have had not merely a believable character (I've known my own share of Fletchers in the music education business) but a sympathetic one as well.The film also could have used, in addition to the undeniably well-edited drum solo, more stretches of hard-swinging jazz. To its credit, it ends abruptly with the climactic drum solo, not lingering around for the usual sentimental fluff.

*contains a mini-spoiler*As a die-hard movie goer, this film was a rare treat that comes along once in a great while. I'm a hard core Sci-Fi fan, but I can appreciate a first rate movie from any genre. This one just happened to come from the only thing I love more than movies, music.This movie flew completely under my radar. Hadn't seen a preview, or read anything about it. I checked what was playing that day, crossed off the 5 playing I had already seen, crossed off the 7 playing I wanted no part of, I read the brief synopsis of Whiplash and saw J.K. Simmons was in it and that was enough for me.Basically as a movie goer these days, I just want to see something different and the bottom line for me is, I gotta get lost in it and be truly entertained. And Damnit, I was!At the scene of the car crash, I got up and walked the heck out. I knew there was no way I was gonna keep this much joy to myself! I walked out to my car, called my wife at work, I said "hey, this movie is INCREDIBLE". I said you have got to come see this thing! I can honestly say, thousands of movies, this has never happened to me personally.So later that night my wife and I saw this thing, went home, ordered the soundtrack, and pre-ordered the Blu-ray.Today we received the Bluray. I watched the movie twice today, one without, and once with commentary. Plus watched all the special features.It'll be a while before another movie impresses me the way this one has done. Was not that impressed with Miles in the few movies I had previously seen him in. Gotta say, he was right for this role and certainly earned my respect. J.K. Simmons, always great.Was very surprised to read some negative comments from some of the reviewers here at Amazon. Everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion, but I was so blown away I guess I just assumed most people would feel the same.I was entertained in every sense of the word by this film and I don't regret a penny I spent on it. I wish Miles could have been part of the commentary and I wish they would have included a piece on his training as part of the special features. Aside from those minor gripes the blu-ray release is all thumbs up from me. Great picture, superb DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, a 45 minute feature that was fairly interesting with interview segments from a bunch of professional drummers, the original film short, and a couple other little tidbits. Again, was really hoping for a glimpse into Miles' training for the film, but nothing's perfect. It's a must-own for fans of great drama and music.