Stunningly awful!

Rating: 1/10 (22 April 2016)

I'm gob smacked at the praise this terrible film has received. Within the first few minutes I realised it was phony nonsense. The writing strikes me as very weak. It is not based on reality at all. I teach artists and I am well aware that psychotic, cruel bullying will destroy any talent a developing artist has, not foster it. I'm amazed anyone thinks otherwise.
How fascinating that so many people enjoyed this sado-masochistic film. Is it the cruelty people enjoy, I wonder? I just found it silly. When I saw that the actor playing the teacher had won an Oscar for it I felt as though I had entered some surreal altered reality. I do not wish to be negative about anyone's work but this is not a strong piece of acting; he seemed to be playing a screaming drill sergeant in a second-rate war film. Mind you, who can blame the poor guy? The script didn't make sense so he did not have much to work with. I'm sorry to say there was not much musicianship in evidence in this film either. There's a lot more to drumming than speed and force.
I have never written an online review before - I have never felt the need. But the strange success of this misguided piece of unpleasantness compels me.
It's not the film that shocks me; lots of bad, unbelievable films are made. It's its popularity. Bizarre!