The Stories about Music Films: 27. Whiplash (2014)

Basic Info 

Title: Whiplash
Genre: Drama
Country: United States
Language: English
Running time: 107 minutes
Release date: January 16, 2014 (Sundance), October 10, 2014 (United States)

Staff 

Director: Damien Chazelle
Producer: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, Michel Litvak, David Lancaster
Written by: Damien Chazelle
Music: Justin Hurwitz
Cinematography: Sharone Meir
Edited by: Tom Cross

Cast

Miles Teller as Andrew Neiman
J. K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher
Paul Reiser as Jim Neiman, Andrew's father
Melissa Benoist as Nicole
Austin Stowell as Ryan Connolly
Nate Lang as Carl Tanner
Chris Mulkey as Uncle Frank
Damon Gupton as Mr. Kramer
Suanne Spoke as Aunt Emma
Jayson Blair as Travis
Charlie Ian as Dustin
Kavita Patil as Sophie
April Grace as Rachel Bornholdt

Summary

Whiplash is a 2014 American drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. The film depicts the relationship between an ambitious jazz drummer Miles Teller and J. K. Simmons, the notorious bandleader at the fictional Shaffer Conservatory. The film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival as the festival's opening film, and was particularly well-received for Simmons's performance, Cross' editing, and Chazelle's screenplay. At the 87th Academy Awards in February 2015, it won Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Supporting Actor for Simmons. 

Movie Review

“An incredibly powerful film” 

“A modern day masterpiece”
“Tension, tension, tension”
“A dynamic movie full of tensions and twists”
“A Psychological Horror Story”
“Terrible, unrealistic portrayal of a beautiful art form (Jazz)”

Interesting stories about the film

1. The film was shot in 19 days, edited, and submitted to the Sundance Film Festival in 10 weeks.
2. J.K. Simmons has won 47 awards for his role as Fletcher.
3. All of Andrew's drumming in the film was performed by Miles Teller himself to pre-recorded tracks, and about 40% of Teller's drumming was used in the soundtrack.
4. J.K. Simmons has played the piano in the past, but had to take piano lessons again for his role in the film.
5. Miles Teller has been drumming since he was 15 years old, but he took additional lessons 4 hours a day, 3 days a week for this film.

Thank you.

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The Stories about Music Films: 26. La La Land (2016)

Basic Info 

Title: La La Land
Genre: Drama
Country: United States
Language: English
Running time: 128 minutes
Release date: August 31, 2016 (Venice), December 9, 2016 (United States)

Staff

Director: Damien Chazelle
Producer: Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, Gary Gilbert, Marc Platt
Written by: Damien Chazelle
Music: Justin Hurwitz
Cinematography: Linus Sandgren
Edited by: Tom Cross

Cast 

Ryan Gosling as Sebastian Wilder
Emma Stone as Mia Dolan
John Legend as Keith
J. K. Simmons as Bill
Rosemarie DeWitt as Laura Wilder
Finn Wittrock as Greg
Callie Hernandez as Tracy
Sonoya Mizuno as Caitlin

Summary

“La La Land” is a 2016 American musical romantic comedy film, written and directed by Damien Chazelle. The film stars Ryan Gosling as a jazz pianist and Emma Stone as an aspiring actress, who meet and fall in love while chasing their dreams in Los Angeles. 

Premiered at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2016, the film was released in the United States on December 9, 2016. It was praised for Chazelle's screenplay and direction, Gosling and Stone's performances, music, cinematography and production design. 

The film received seven nominations and won seven awards at the 74th Golden Globes Awards, and received eleven nominations and won five awards including Best Film at the 70th British Academy Film Awards. It also received fourteen nominations and won six categories including Sherzel for Best Director and Stone for Best Actress at the 89th Academy Awards. 

Movie Review

“Nostalgic, Colourful, Joyous CinemaScope Magic”
“The best movie of 2016”
“An romantic musical, infused with intense charisma and devastating emotion”
“A wonderful and loving ode to the dreamers and artists of the world”
“Truly Emotional Movie”

Interesting stories about the film 

1. According to composer Justin Hurwitz, all the piano performances in the film were first recorded by pianist Randy Kerber during pre-production. Then Ryan Gosling took piano lessons 2 hours a day, 6 days a week to learn the music.

2. The audition scene, where the casting director interrupts Mia's emotional performance to take a phone call, was inspired by one of Ryan Gosling's actual auditions.

3. Emma Watson declined the role of Mia due to the filming schedule of Beauty and the Beast (2017), while Ryan Gosling declined the role of the Beast in that film to appear in this one. Ironically, Emma Stone later withdrew from the role of Meg March in Little Women (2019), overlapping with the schedule for promoting The Favourite (2018), and Watson was cast to replace her in the part.

4. Because Damien Chazelle wanted to shoot the scenes in the old musical tradition without cuts or editing, Ryan Gosling practiced playing the piano and played them all on his first day of shooting. Co-star John Legend, who is a classically trained a pianist, said he was jealous of how quickly Gosling learned to play so well.

I will take a break during the Korean Thanksgiving holiday season from tomorrow to the next Sunday.

Thank you.

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