Abuse, Envy, Betrayal and "Jazz?" Oh, my!

Rating: 1/10 (22 February 2015)

"A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential..." or so the description goes.
In reality, though, the only thing Fletcher - the "band leader" - wants to do is destroy anyone with more talent than he, which includes about everyone else after hearing his attempt to "play jazz"near the end of the film. (Truly awful, mediocre and banal. And, NOT jazz!)
Fletcher is a one-dimensional combination of Mo'Nique's character in Precious and Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) from Amadeus. His intent is to destroy talent, not nurture it, especially when he runs across what he considers real talent. His motivation is pure envy. His character is not only a complete fraud and liar - Charlie Parker's nickname "Bird" came from his childhood, long before he picked up his first sax and had nothing to do with a "cut session" later in life - he's a psycho-sadist who has no business "teaching" anyone anything.
Those of us who truly love jazz gag at every reference to Buddy Rich. Rich, while a remarkably talented drummer technique-wise, was no jazz drummer. He simply didn't have the soul and he knew it, which goes a long way in explaining his recording studio antics. He, too, was a jealous, egotistical jazz wannabe, much like Fletcher.
The editing of this film reminds me of "film school 101" where the first assignment in editing class is to cut a piece of film to music. It's amateur at best. End of story.
But rarely have I seen a film where one scene was so completely out of place that, in retrospect, it completely undermines any positive intention the film may be attempting. I'm talking about the dinner table scene, where Andrew's father humiliates him in front of family and friends gathered for a meal. The dad's later declaration that he "would do anything" to protect his son from abuse rings as hollow as the film itself. That entire scene should have been left of the cutting room floor. It did nothing for the film except destroy the narrative, the characters truthfulness, and the overall "theme" of the film itself, although I'm not quite sure the director, writers, actors, etc, were actually aware of what they were attempting to achieve.
One glaring "oops:" Fletcher is hired to conduct a JVC gig at Carnage Hall - probably by bullying someone. He invites Andrew to play the drums (seems he needs a drummer on short notice). But honestly, would someone in this position actually organize such a prestigious event without having a back-up drummer just in case Andrew fails to show? I think not. But, that's what happens. And, it's a mess.
Thankfully, this "film" has an antidote in The Theory of Everything, a great film about a true genius and what it takes to nurture one to fruition. Whiplash cannot fall into the abyss of obscurity soon enough as far as I'm concerned. Oh, and the soundtrack sucks, big time. Jazz? Not even close.