Searching for Gene Krupa ?

Rating: 5/10 (6 January 2015)

I'm giving this a 5, but it's important to explain that the reason is that I think it will please those who like these kinds of films and/or will enjoy the jazz. I agree with those who have pointed out that there were too many drill sargent/basic training type scenes, and while professional musicians put in a lot of practice time, what was portrayed here way way over the top. The Simmons character in particular was played with an almost sadistic quality (and little else to his personality), but for me that detracted greatly. I would like to have had some "backstory" on the two main characters, but instead it's just the same sort of thing, over and over again, with at least a mildly unrealistic ending that put it in the "Karate Kid" category.
At least in "Searching for Bobby Fischer" we were compelled to ask if children should experience that kind of stress on a regular basis, but what's the essence of this film? Does it matter if this young man becomes a "great" drummer? I really don't care one way of the other. For all I know he is a rather nasty person who deserves to fail - nothing in the film suggested to the contrary! How can such a film me made with such obvious flaws? If it was made in someone's back yard with basically no budget, the story would be understandable, but it isn't here!