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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Lion sanctuary opens to overnight guests, visitors in Phoenix Program fosters park care SOU board names officers, committees Region in for a wet and windy week This is an emergency — test Education SOU board names officers, committees Parent files complaint against Ashland schools Learning on the job AHS speech and debate team headed north Willow Wind inquiry forms now available Environment Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Mt. 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This is an emergency — test ... Police: No blood found in teen's car ... Region in for a wet and windy week ... This is an emergency — test ... Police: No blood found in teen's car ... MOVIE REVIEW 'Whiplash' pounds out a riveting beat Comment By Chris Honoré for Revels DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Jan. 29, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Jan. 29, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News Whiplash; 106 minutes; Rated R   “Whiplash” will grab you from the first scene and never yield. It is punishing, electric and intense. At its center is Miles Teller, portraying 19-year-old Andrew Neiman, a freshman at a fictional Manhattan music conservatory, who aspires to be a world-class drummer, wanting/needing to play at the same level as his heroes, Charlie Parker and Buddy Rich. He is invited to join a jazz ensemble, directed by one of the conservatory’s instructors, Terrence Fletcher, played with an astonishing verisimilitude and sadistic mien by J.K Simmons. Where Andrew is driven — and driven only begins to scratch the surface of his commitment — to play as if his life and future and meaning are in the balance, Fletcher adheres to an instructional philosophy that dictates that he will only get the best out of his students if he uses what might euphemistically be called “tough love.” However, these two words are run through a filter of abusive cruelty that is chilling and beyond the pale. And the fact that his young students stay, and play, and absorb his denigrating, homophobic, foul-mouthed bullying — and this includes Andrew on drums, who practices until his hands bleed — is testimony to their deep desire to achieve a kind of perfection and artistry attained by only a few. Andrew refuses to think of himself as ordinary and is driven to reach a level of the extraordinary, at whatever cost. He refuses to acknowledge that Fletcher is pathological in his conviction that in order to bring out the best in his students (Andrew specifically) he must bring out the worst in himself and turn their rehearsal room into a sauna of sweat and pain and rage. He feigns friendship (“just have fun”) and then uses any semblance of trust to reduce his students to emotional rubble. It’s a cruel pedagogy and a style not exactly approved of by the conservatory. But for all that, “Whiplash”is not a grim film. Nor is it gratuitous or indulgent. It is filled with spectacular acting and a frenetic potency while still finding moments that are quiet and reflective and deeply human. In other words, it is riveting and decidedly entertaining. The film also has embedded in every scene the question: What is ultimately required for any artist to attain a level of perfection that transcends even the extraordinary? And from what source do the sacrifice and effort and sheer courage come from? Is being self-motivated enough? Or must there be an external component (a mentor, coach, instructor) that insists/screams that enough is not yet enough? The correlative to this film could easily be found on the field of play. The title of the film comes from the jazz score “Whiplash,” a rendition played again and again during the film, often followed by the classic “Caravan . ”Both resonate with soul-touching rhythm. The jazz rocks, so to speak. As an aside, “Whiplash”has been nominated for five Oscars. J.K. Simmons has been nominated as best actor in a supporting role, and the film also garnered a nomination for best picture. Simmons, a veteran character actor, is long overdue to be recognized for the depth and breadth of his talent. Perhaps this film will be his vehicle.          By Chris Honoré for Revels DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Jan. 29, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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