Review of Whiplash (2014) by Danny R — 06 Oct 2015

Writer-director Damien Chazelle's electrifying drama is one of the year's best and most memorable films. It concerns Andrew Neyman, played superbly by Miles Teller, in a breakout, career-making performance.

He is a gifted 19 year-old aspiring Jazz drummer who wants to be great, like his idol the legendary Buddy Rich. Andrew attends a prestigious Manhattan music school, where he catches the eye of the school's most notorious professor, Terence Fletcher, marvelously played by J.

K. Simmons in an awesome scene-stealing performance that won him the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actor Guild Award, and BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Simmons is absolutely unforgettable and burns a hole in the screen every time he appears.

Andrew is thrilled that Fletcher has picked him for his elite ensemble band, but has no ideal of the inhuman abuse and pressure that Fletcher will unleash on him, which will include brutal insults, slaps across the face, and objects hurled at him.

Fletcher does all this to get the very best out of Andrew, he believes that by having no mercy he will make a virtuoso musician out of Andrew, who plays his drums so hard and with such intensity that he literally makes his hands bleed.

Teller who does most of his own amazing drumming is truly impressive and delivers a jaw-dropping portrait of young musician struggling for greatness. Simmons is astounding as he turns from caring mentor to heartless sociopath.

The battle of wills between Teller and Simmons is the heart of this fascinating film. Striking cinematography by Shaone Meir, with beautiful original music by Justin Hurwitz. Sensational direction by Damien Chazelle, who also wrote the captivating Academy Award nominated adapted screenplay, and gives us a unique motion picture that is a prime example of bravura filmmaking.

Nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture. Highly Recommended.