"Now you know the meaning of stage fright."
Grand Piano takes you on a disorienting ride through a night in the life of concert pianist Tom Selznick (Elijah Wood) as he struggles to make his return to the stage after five years of self banishment following an embarrassing breakdown. He expected stage fright and all the nerves that come with it. But one thing he didn't expect was to be held captive on stage at gunpoint. And so we are thrust into a world of art, music, and greed.
Elijah Wood plays the perfect anxious individual. He naturally radiates that awkwardness you would expect someone like his character would have. His mannerisms and gloomy behavior really thrusts you to the edge of your seat while wondering if he can, in fact, play the perfect concert. Elijah had also been working with a piano teacher to add more authenticity to the role. That takes some commitment, and you have to love an actor that tries their absolute best to connect with their character. I just hope he really didn't scalp people in preparation for Maniac (2012).
The cinematography is astounding. For a film that has 90% of its story take place in a darkened theatre, the camerawork definitely keeps you involved. Playing off the theatre's own lighting and through reflections in the piano itself are only two instances of how it manipulates the scene to almost cause the same amount of vertigo Tom is most certainly feeling on stage. The editing is very creative. There's a scene that involves a piece of glass and a cello that will make you cringe. Keep a lookout.
The tension is palpable. You can feel the distress in the air as the concert goes on. The film could best be described as a cross between a Brain De Palma and Hitchcock creation. What increases the immersion is almost the whole score of the film is the actual concert itself. When the orchestra starts off, easing itself into motion, so does the shooter unveil his demands on Tom. And when things get staccato, things get sticky. At the climax of the film, there's a song playing while things are going down in other places in the theatre, and it will give you chills.
All of this isn't very surprising when you find out that Damien Chazelle, Grand Piano's writer, also gave us films like 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), Whiplash (2013), and a most anticipated La La Land (2016) coming to theaters later this month. With that kind of talent at the helm, anything is possible.
All in all, a great watch and a thrilling ride.
But stay away from pianos. For the time being.