Miles Teller is a first-year student at a prestigious music college. He doesn't really have friends or know how to interact with people. But he doesn't care about things like friends. He's driven and ambitious, and the only thing he truly cares about is being one of the great jazz drummer. About being famous. Sacrificing everything else is worth it.
J.K. Simmons is an abusive, emotionally manipulative conductor. He doesn't care who he hurts or how, because everyone who cracks was never worth his time anyway. He's looking for a diamond and he will put massive pressure on every lump of coal he finds until he gets one.
Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons are miserable, unlikeable people who find their equals in each other. Miles Teller is a jazz drummer who will play until he bleeds, then keep playing. J.K. Simmons will break down everyone to see who won't give up despite the damage. Together they could create the best jazz drummer the world has ever known. They are destructive, mad, and brilliant, and it is impossible to look away from them. In a way, it's a similar love story to the one in Gone Girl. They are better with each other than alone, even if they will claw each other apart.
So I'm not a jazz fan. Maybe I'm not the right audience for this movie. Because I spent an incredible amount of time wondering WHY so much blood, sweat, and tears were being poured into a dying art. It felt like it was the same stakes as a movie about trying to become/make THE BEST SHEEP SHEARER. Yes, people still shear sheep. But you're not going to become famous forever for doing it. If you're worried about your legacy, if your entire drive is to have the world remember your name, why jazz drumming? I don't care how hard Miles Teller works or how far he's pushed because he's never going to be the next Charlie Parker because it's not the 1950s.
Grade: A-
Final Verdict: Intense (really, I can't think of another word for it) acting and an intense film. It's completely messed up but as sickly fascinating as a car wreck to watch.
If You Like This, Watch: Notes on a Scandal, Birdman, Black Swan, Foxcatcher, Gone Girl, Full Metal Jacket
I don't usually do this, but I'm going to throw in some character-explaining quotes. Because the dialogue in this film says exactly what you need to know to understand these guys.
