Blow-Up

Also known as: Blowup

Genre: psychological drama

With: David Hemmings (Thomas), Vanessa Redgrave (Jane), Sarah Miles (Patricia), John Castle (Bill), Jane Birkin (the Blonde), Gillian Hills (the Brunette), Peter Bowles (Ron), Veruschka von Lehndorff (playing herself)

Director: Michelangelo Antonioni

Screenplay: Michelangelo Antonioni and Tonino Guerra with help from Edward Bond (from a story by Michelangelo Antonioni based on a short story by Julio Cortázar)

Release: 1967

Studio: Premier Productions, Carlo Ponti Production, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Bridge Films

Rating: -

MBiS score: 8.7/10 

 

As Long as It Makes a Pretty Picture 

 

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Story-line: Thomas, a photographer in London, is so dedicated to his craft that he can spend hours around fashion models or go undercover to capture scenes of factory work. One day, while hunting for antiques, he chances upon fresh subjects for his camera... a man and a woman meeting in a park. Those pictures, however, will elicit more than an interest in aesthetics or art...   

Pluses: a strong turn by David Hemmings as the driven and not very likeable Thomas, a good supporting cast playing unconventional, sometimes wacky characters, supple direction, a cryptic, sketchy screenplay delivering obtuse dialogues and classic scenes of the psychedelic era (Veruschka’s photo shoot, Jeff Beck smashing his guitar!), magnificent cinematography, high-grade production values and a great musical score by Herbie Hancock (with contributions from the Lovin’ Spoonful and the Yardbirds).

Minuses: since the film is partly an exercise in style, its subject matter may feel slim to some viewers.

Comments: BLOW-UP shares several traits with another seminal film of the late 1960s and early 70s, the striking A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, notably an anti-hero who lives so much for the moment and in the moment that he borders on wantonness. Behind its facade of pop art, hard rock, harder drugs and frenzied sexuality, Antonioni’s work depicts a world whose priorities are muddled and creativity verges on the superficial. Adventurous, intriguing, phantasmagorical and wild, BLOW-UP is one of those swinging films you don’t see as much as you experience.     

 

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Whiplash

Genre: psychological drama

With: Miles Teller (Andrew Neimann), J.K. Simmons (Fletcher), Paul Reiser (Jim Neimann), Melissa Benoist (Nicole), Austin Stowell (Ryan), Nate Lang (Carl Tanner), Chris Mulkey (Uncle Frank), Damon Gupton (Mr. Kramer)

Director: Damien Chazelle

Screenplay: Damien Chazelle

Release: 2014

Studio: Bold Films, Blumhouse Productions, Right of Way Films, Sierra/Affinity

Rating: R

MBiS score: 8.2/10 

 

Boot Camp for Bandmates 

 

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Story-line: for Andrew Neimann, a drum student at the Shaffer Conservatory, working under teacher Terence Fletcher would be a dream come true. To make it happen, however, he will have to accept Fletcher as he is, warts and all.

Pluses: heavy-duty acting by Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons (in a wide-ranging, Oscar-winning performance as the mercurial Fletcher), able support from a good cast, first-rate direction, an interesting screenplay dipped in acid and psychological stress, attractive cinematography, a fine musical score, convincing production values, great editing and sound (both rewarded with Oscars). Please note that the film was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay.

Minuses: the language used − although indicative of a very competitive academic environment – is excessively derogatory, cruel and vulgar in a jazz context (does music really soothe the savage beast?). I subtracted 0.2 from my overall score because of the single-mindedness of the screenplay and its questionable, dog-eat-dog moral message.    

Comments: Vic Braden (1929-2014), a lovable tennis teacher and psychology graduate, once said that he tried to match sadists against masochists at his training camps so all his players would be happy. You could say as much about the relationship between Andrew and Fletcher in the dynamic and very demanding WHIPLASH: in some way, they need each other so much that they’ll make life miserable for each other and everybody else. I guess this is what musicians call ‟paying your dues”… 

 

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