Fantastic drumming and brass but God awful plot

Rating: 4/10 (25 September 2018)

Watched this film with great eagerness as heard rave reviews and although it shows fantastic work from the cast in general, the storyline is extremely poor and overreaching. Think anyone with any sense can tell being a successful musician is one of the hardest things to achieve in this lifetime let alone one of the most talented. But the approach from the teacher Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) would make Drill Sergeants wince, to push people to their limit is one thing, but to constantly do it over and over and over again would drive the most determined to fall short. The shots where Andrew (Miles Teller) is pushing himself constantly were over the top but somewhat realistic, but it all turns when he dumps his girlfriend (Mellisa Benoist) to concentrate on his career was as odd move in the film as she was barely in it in the first place. The part that tips this into the abyss is when Andrew is late and comes under fire from Fletcher and has to retrieve his drumming sticks only to be hit by a Truck. Not only does he walk miraculously but manages to get to the gig albeit to his demise. It just got worse from there really and the ending predictable. However, the performances were top class especially Miles Teller as he really through himself into the role. Sadly I just did not find enough for the dreadful and unrealistic storyline.