Director
Damien Chazelle
Leading Actors/Actresses
Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Austin Stowell, Paul Reiser, Melissa Benoist
Genre
Drama, Music
Language
English
Awards
Won 3 Academy Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Simmons), Best Achievement in Sound Mixing, Best Achievement in Film Editing
Date of Release
2014
Producer
Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, David Lancaster, Michel Litvak
Setting and Context
New York - Shaffer Conservatory, 2014
Narrator and Point of View
POV is that of Andrew
Tone and Mood
Serious, Dramatic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist is Andrew. Antagonist is Fletcher.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is that Andrew is driven to a maniacal, crazed and antisocial state by his abusive bandleader, whom he eventually gets fired, after he is expelled from the school.
Climax
Seeking revenge on Andrew for causing him to lose his job at Shaffer, Fletcher sets up a jazz festival drumming spot for Andrew, only to lead the band in a song Andrew doesn't know. Andrew decides to play "Caravan" and the band then follows his lead. He's so good that even Fletcher cannot help but acknowledge his skill.
Foreshadowing
Andrew practicing alone in the opening scene foreshadows that he has greatness in him, but it just hasn't come out yet.
Understatement
Fletcher's over-the-top antics are understated throughout most of the film, taken for granted as just "part of" the program.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
Allusions
Allusions to some of the jazz greats, like Charlie Parker.
Paradox
Fletcher's teaching philosophy is itself paradoxical: he believes that by degrading his students he can motivate them to become better. Amazing enough, with Andrew, this works.
