Jazz fiction

Rating: 3/10 (17 January 2015)

(biased but educated review from a jazz drummer student)
I give 3 points because:
-the movie is entertaining (wich for me is a major factor)
i take seven because:
-The plot is 100% unbelievable.
-The idea portrayed here that to get better at jazz drumming (or for that matter any music genre and any musical instrument) you have to injure yourself, suffer psychologically and practice with tension in your hands/arms is exactly the opposite of what playing/practicing jazz drumming is.
The only way to get better is practicing relaxed an being constant...improving in baby, but solid steps.
-There is a special accent on playing fast as hell as a mean to be considered "the greatest", and also indirectly in the importance of reading musical scores, when in reality, jazz drumming is a lot more about feel and dynamics, , creativity, coordination and improvisation (without reading any musicl score at all but knowing the form of the song and listening to the other players to interact in the moment).
So the movie is a fiction, but not tagged as if. The only thing that can relate with reality is that it can be considered a caricature of a very turbulent student-teacher relationship. Also can be considered a good way to show teachers and students WHAT NOT TO DO.