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A tour de force debut by Damien Chazelle, the movie is at its best when it narrows its focus to the brilliantly edited practice and performance scenes, which allow JK Simmons to deservedly take that spotlight. Melissa Benoist makes the most of her role as well. The film shows the capabilities of a young filmmaker who can confidently and thoughtfully tell a thrilling story about any subject matter.

This is a really clever indie that features some really exciting young talent. Absolutely loved the performances of the three leads, and the supporting ensemble is filled with slam dunk performances (there's no way you'll recognize child star Jonathan Lipnicki as the kooky kid with the mohawk). While there's a lot of plot packed into the story, the film keeps the pace up, and lands the comedy much more often than not (the drama teacher scenes are hilarious). Amidst the fun stuff, the film also manages to present a really thoughtful portrait **** (the lovely Sarah Jes Austell) dealing with depression in a way that I really connected with.