At this year’s CAPE, I chatted with actor Yanic Truesdale. One of the fan favourites of the ever popular television show Gilmore Girls, Truesdale played the role of impatient, persnickety and rather rude Michel Gerard, the French concierge who works at Independence Inn in the hip and happening town of Stars Hollow. One of the main players in the show for all seven years, and reprising his role in this year’s A Year in the Life reboot, we spoke of his time on set. Often working with Lauren Graham and Melissa McCarthy, the three had an infectious chemistry. Make sure to check out the interview below to hear more about this triumvirate, how he developed the roots of his crotchety character, as well as what it felt like returning to the Michel persona after nearly a decade away from it.
When the conversation turned to his favourite film, he promptly referenced the highly regarded 2014 musical drama Whiplash. Calling it “a really strong, powerful story . . . about pursuing your passion, and doing something you love – no matter what. . .”, it drew him in and didn’t let him go until the utter end.
Whiplash, the story of a talented drummer who is pushed to the edge by a more than intense, militarist-style instructor, took the world by storm in 2014-2015 and has continuously gained steam ever since. The simple yet effective tale that consists of a battle of the wills helped the film earn three Academy Awards: including Best Supporting Actor for J.K. Simmons as well as Best Achievement in Film Editing and Sound Mixing. Whiplash has also landed at number 45 on IMDb’s top 250 films list.
So, what is it that draws people to this movie that focuses on a teenage jazz drummer’s journey? It is not exactly what someone would call a bankable blockbuster movie, yet the story has reached and touched audiences – and left people discussing it long after the final credits have rolled.
The plot follows Andrew (Miles Teller), a first year student at the highly regarded Shaffer Conservatory in New York City. Everyone, including Andrew, hopes to be chosen as part of the studio band led by the rude, slanderous, but highly influential Fletcher (J.K. Simmons). After a lackluster first meeting, Andrew finally gets his chance to be the alternative for core drummer Carl Tanner (Nate Lang).
When, by happenchance, Tanner loses his sheet music and panics before an important live performance, Andrew, who has been one of Fletcher’s favourite whipping boys for the last little while steps in, as he has memorized ‘Whiplash’ – a speedy, complicated jazz tune.
This catapults him to the lead drumming position, though Fletcher quickly brings in a third alternate from Andrew’s past to further complicate the youth’s dreams of becoming a future jazz great like Charlie Parker or Buddy Rich. To try to maintain his tenuous grip on the position, Andrew (with harsh motivation from Fletcher) seeps copious amounts of blood, sweat and tears to stay ahead of the two highly motivated musicians – as they move on to the challenging song ‘Caravan’. Yet, Fletcher’s impossible standards and anxiety-causing attitude eventually push Andrew down a reckless path (after several unlucky happenings) – causing him to get into a serious car accident as he is trying to make it to a show on time (so that he does not lose his coveted position).
After a serious altercation between the two, Andrew is expelled and Fletcher is fired for his vile actions toward his students. The once driven teen disassembles his kit, storing the drums in his closet and gets a dead end job while looking for a new educational path. While walking the streets of New York one night, he stumbles upon a jazz club where his former brutal mentor is playing piano with a group. Though he first tries to dodge the gaze of the man, their eyes soon meet and the two share a drink. What follows will most likely be the cause of much of the discussion surrounding Whiplash. In a rather frank way, Fletcher explains to his former student that his intense method was meant to push his talented class towards greatness – with him claiming that “there are no two words in the English language more harmful than ‘good job’”. He uses a grandiose story of drummer Jo Jones almost decapitating Charlie Parker with a cymbal (which led him down an intense path of training which elevated him to icon status) as a case for his actions.
The conclusion of the conversation leads to Andrew being offered a drumming position as part of a band that Fletcher is conducting in a jazz festival (possibly re-opening the door to his drifting dream). Will Andrew be able to elevate to the next level and impress his mentor as well as the influential audience? The final twenty minutes unfolds in an amazing manner, leaving us at the intense peak (or climax) of the film (forcing us to decide where the denouement would go).
So, back to the likely discussion that could or would follow this movie. Is the path we are taking with children in music, sports, or the like – where everyone is included, receives a ribbon and is told ‘good job’ – right or wrong? Is giving positive reinforcement to children helpful or is it limiting their drive and excellence by creating a sense that everything they are doing is great (when it is merely average to mediocre)? Do the ends justify the means? What does it take to truly achieve the excellence aimed for in Whiplash? These are just a few of the numerous questions that will likely come up after watching this rivetting film.
On top of these intriguing questions, the film also succeeds at creating an adrenaline fuelled ride that is driven by the tête-à-tête between the two strong-willed leads. Teller, who played much of what is seen on the screen, is absolutely superb. He is able to capture the drive, as well as the painful realizations of a tortured young student under the thumb of a sadistic mentor. And then there is J.K. Simmons, whose utterly harsh performance, which consists of him spewing everything from homophobic slurs to numerous expletives, is more than intense. He is so believable and truly captures the essence of the mind-game playing prof. Though the two drive the film to its intense climax, other smaller roles from Paul Reiser (as Andrew’s dad Jim) and Melissa Benoist (as Andrew’s girlfriend Nicole) also add nuanced touches to the story.
Whiplash miraculously leaves its audience feeling as though they had experienced what the title is describing. Its sharp editing, superb acting, and simple yet effective story places us on an intense adrenaline ride that dissipates long after the film has come to a close. So, join this ‘caravan’ and see Whiplash – it will leave you ensnared.