Baby, Are You A Roller Coaster?

'Cause you're giving me WHIPLASH!

Hah, get it? It's a pick-up line! For band geeks! Like me! The pick-up line is themed to the movie Whiplash.  Who doesn't love movies? Especially, who doesn't love movies when they're themed around something you love? For me, I love jazz. Whiplash is a movie about a jazz drummer who overcomes his fears and regrets as he aspires to his potential and makes a name for himself. Of course, the film being made in Hollywood, the poor boy just has to make the stupidest decisions of his life when all he wants is to impress his Studio Band teacher.

At the beginning, it all starts out with young, innocent Andrew practicing in a practice room, trying to figure out how to perfect his technique. Fletcher, the director for the Studio Band walks in while he is practicing. Fletcher tells Andrew he is looking for players for his Studio Band, and then asks him to play a double-time swing. As Andrew is playing, Fletcher continues to yell, "Faster!" at Andrew until he breaks a sweat. Andrew couldn't catch up to Fletcher's tempo, but he tries really hard. After a few beats of being behind, you hear the practice room door shut and Fletcher is nowhere to be seen. 

You may think that was really rude of Fletcher, but compared to the rest of the movie, that was nice of Fletcher to just walk away. A few scenes later, Fletcher shows up outside that frosted-glass door of JVC band rehearsal, which is the band Andrew is in. At the shout chorus of the song the band is playing, Fletcher bursts in and asks random players to play their part in the song. Eventually, Fletcher gets to Andrew and the other drummer and asks them for a double-time swing. This time, Andrew succeeds and is asked to join the Studio Band. Well, not asked. More like commanded to.

Along the way of this thrilling and dramatic movie, Andrew makes the most idiotic, oblivious, and self-abusive choices possibly of his life in this movie. I won't ruin it for you, I will just tell you how controversial it is. If you didn't know, Andrew is a college freshman at his music school. Being in a band like Studio Band is a pretty darn big deal at his age. With a director like Fletcher, a student like Andrew could certainly learn a lot about music when he rehearses under his direction. However, throughout the movie, Fletcher attempts to both mentally and physically abusive Andrew, whether or not it seems like it. I have learned a bit about music and jazz history throughout the movie, but what stuck with me is Fletcher's strong disliking for some words in the English language.

My life lesson

Courtesy of Tumblr

So yeah, you should go see Whiplash if you ever get the chance.

One last thing. Since this entire post was started with a pick-up line, I thought I should end it with one.

Are you a fermata? Because I really wanna hold you. ;).