J.K. Simmons

‘The Ladykillers’ is another example of the Coens loving the old school

The Ladykillers is the forgotten Coen brothers project. Released in early 2004, the star-studded (as per usual) picture was met with a tepid reception and to this day is looked upon on with dubious eyes, if mentioned at all when discussing their career. More to the point, the entire period between O Brother Where Art Thou and No Country for Old Men is not one that film fans in general or Coen fans in particular are very fond of bringing up

Saturday Night Live, Ep. 40.13: “J.K. Simmons/D’Angelo” brings Oscar nominated support to 30 Rock

J.K. Simmons likes to work. For those who may be unfamiliar with him or that fact, he makes it all very clear in his monologue when he points out that he starred in a movie called Whiplash, which he is practically a lock to win the supporting actor Oscar for, as well as a TV show, Growing Up Fisher, where he played a blind lawyer (“It got cancelled”), and stars in ads for State Farm AND is the voice of the yellow M&M. Simmons is the epitome of “oh its that guy” actors; he was even once an “oh its that guy” guy on an episode of SNL. As such, Simmons brings an affable working man quality to all of his sketches tonight, playing a pageant host, two different older middle class working men, and Humphrey Bogart, where his particular batch of old school Hollywood charm really shown through. Simmons is a team player, meaning that we get to see him affect different accents, speech patterns, wigs, and even do some singing, but because he is so good at his job, we never once see the actor’s facade break.

NYFF 2014: ‘Whiplash’ phenomenally explores the line between perfection and sociopathy

Originally birthed as an 18-minute short, premiering at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, Whiplash went on to garner enough attention to become a feature full-length film. Thank God it did. The feature-length version of Whiplash masterfully showcases the pressures of perfection in a tightly plotted, beautifully shot, soberly performed package. From the creative genius of sophomore director Damien Chazelle comes a semi-autobiographical experience just as exhilarating as it is shocking. Whiplash tells the story of Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller), a promising young drummer who enrolls at an elite music conservatory, where his dreams of greatness are mentored by Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), a ruthless music conductor who will stop at nothing to realize his student’s potential talent. With the audience on the edge of their seats, the question constantly being taunted is thus: how far is too far for pushing a student towards greatness?

NYFF 2014: ‘Whiplash’ makes music thrilling like no other film

Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash, now conquering New York after wowing audiences at film festivals all the way back to Sundance last winter, opens with a title card over black while a few taps on a snare drum build into a furious drum roll. It’s a fine way to symbolize the conflict at the center of the film, which accelerates to “furious” so quickly and easily that it’s barely perceptible. Tension builds slowly in an empathic crescendo, before snapping over and over again like the repeated pounding of a cymbal. Whatever arguments this film may inspire, it’s clear that there is no other film in existence which makes music so thrilling.

Whiplash2014

TIFF 2014: ‘Whiplash’ is expertly paced and fueled by exquisite tension

What began as a short film seeking funding at last year’s Sundance has come to fruition as one of 2014’s best films. A must-see at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Damien Chazelle’s magnificent Whiplash offers stellar performances and a powerful, morally ambiguous plot. It concerns young Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) is in his first year at the top music institution in the country. Picked for one of the school’s most competitive bands by its relentless conductor, Terence Fletcher (J. K. Simmons), Andrew finds himself desperately fighting to prove his worth.

‘Whiplash’ a mean and refreshing take on self-determination

Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash centers on a young drummer at a prestigious Manhattan music academy who finds a caustic instructor willing to do anything to urge him toward greatness. This may sound like the beginning of a sentimental, feel-good movie in which encouragement and perseverance win out. But Chazelle’s character study isn’t in the least bit evocative of Mr. Holland’s Opus or Stand and Deliver. Instead, the unrelenting verbal abuse heaped on the student vacillates between hilarious and needlessly demeaning. The ceaseless degradation creates a gray area of quasi-fulfillment where the cinematic rewards are anything but pure. Whiplash keeps the audience on its toes, never letting you think for a moment that the road to artistic success is easy or that one’s competition isn’t eagerly awaiting your total failure for their gain.

Thursday Comedy Roundup: ‘Community’ 4.08, ‘Parks & Rec’ 5.17, & ‘Archer’ 4.12

“Herstory of Dance” is a surprisingly sweet episode of Community. What initially seems like a rather lazy Abed plot, another example of him attempting to enact fictional tropes in the real world, is granted another, deeper level when Brie Larson’s Rebecca assists him in his hijinks. In that moment, it transcends the emptiness of Abed’s arc this season and becomes truly affecting.

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