Pushin' it

Rating: Null/10 (12 February 2015)

Whoa! What a rush! The meaning of the all- too-relevant title revealed itself once during the movie's runtime, and then lashes back to what I thought it was, going in.
What begins as a relentless game of cat and mouse between predator and prey never devolves into something lesser, like they do so usually. No amount of focus is lost in bringing this tale to life and that is perhaps one of its greatest strengths.
One of many.
What are its other strengths, indeed? What areas complement in the telling if this tale, one night well ponder. Lemme try laying it out, the best I can.
The more-than-just-apt production design. The don't-look-away camera work and cinematography. The sublime sound design and marvelous score. The supremely rich characterization. Perhaps 2 of the greatest performances ever rendered on screen. Performance choreography. Perhaps the best ever to be seen on film.
I literally have no nits to pick here. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
After lesser role since'The spectacular now', which he made his own, Miles Teller inhabits the character so thoroughly, that he must've got whiplash in real life too. JJJ, oops, JK Simmons, on the other hand, might have been typecast in such a role, but as the movie progresses, he subtly reminds us, subtly first, then powerfully, almost with a sledgehammer performance of sorts, on why we'll never be able to imagine anyone other than him in the role of the single minded genius prospector of musical talent, while surely getting off on what he can get away with. Masterful. Mind blowing. Forget Louis Gossett Jr. Forget R Lee Ermy. Meet Terence Fletcher. He Will get under your skin, claw his way in, dig in deep, and never, ever, leave. You might take 10, but you. Are. His. Forever.
I can't wait to watch this again. And again. And then some.
Don't miss. And spread the love.