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April 16, 2015
MOVIE | Whiplash: Director Damien Chazelle, 28, Explores Talent and Madness
MOVIE | Winner of 3 Oscars, Including Best Supporting Actor, and Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival
Whiplash: The Obsession of 28-Year-Old Director Damien Chazelle
Whiplash, directed by the 28-year-old prodigy Damien Chazelle, depicts the intense relationship between a ruthless instructor and a driven drummer at a prestigious music university. This acclaimed film, which won three Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actor and the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, will be released nationwide starting Friday, April 17, at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku and other theaters.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
A New Genre: "Music x Psychological Thriller" Born from the Director's Trauma
Damien Chazelle, a 28-year-old filmmaker who was largely unknown at the time of filming, has, with his second feature film,a double win at Sundance Film Festival for Best Film and Audience Award, and furthermore,three Academy Awards, achieved a monumental feat with Whiplash, which finally arrives in Japan.
In fact, this film is a semi-autobiographical story for Damien Chazelle. Blessed with musical talent, he was a jazz drummer in his high school's prestigious band. The grueling days with a demanding instructor he met there, and the trauma he experienced, provided him with the inspiration for this idea.
Afterward, Chazelle pursued filmmaking at Harvard University, spending a year writing the script. He created a novel story that blended music and psychological thriller. It was the renowned producer Jason Reitman, known for films like Juno, Up in the Air, andThe Place Beyond the Pines, who was captivated by his talent.
Miles Teller, from Divergent, plays the protagonist drummer, obsessed with the ambition to "become great." J.K. Simmons, from Juno, plays the ruthless instructor obsessed with the mission of nurturing a true genius with his own hands, earning himan Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Neyman, Who Sacrifices Love, Family, and Even Life to Climb Towards Perfection
Neyman enrolls in a prestigious music university. Scouted by the legendary, ruthless instructor Fletcher for his band, Neyman rejoices, believing his dream and ambition to "become a great musician" are within reach.
However, Neyman is met with Fletcher's insane lessons, demanding absolute perfection where even a 0.1-second tempo deviation is unacceptable. Furthermore, Fletcher employs various psychological traps to push Neyman to his limits, aiming to forge his mental fortitude.
In response, Neyman sacrifices his love life, family, and even his own life, striving to ascend towards the pinnacle Fletcher envisions. Will Fletcher lead Neyman to glory, or crush him?—.
Whiplash, a novel genre blending music and psychological thriller, leads the audience to catharsis. We are witnessing the birth of a new talent in Damien Chazelle.
Whiplash
Opens Friday, April 17, at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku and other theaters nationwide.
Directed and Written by: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser, Austin Stowell
Distribution: Gaga Corporation
http://session.gaga.ne.jp
© 2013 WHIPLASH, LLC. All Rights Reserved.