Review of Whiplash (2014) by Frank C — 22 Aug 2015

For me, simply the watch of 2014. This film will grip you and put you next to drummer Andrew as he toils and bleeds and sweats towards his dreams of becoming the next Charlie Parker.

J.K. Simmons has already gotten his due and accolades, but I'll give him one more. Anger is an emotion that shows up often in film; in Whiplash, I finally felt angry too. Just minutes into the film, I felt the urge to punch through the screen at Simmons's Terence Fletcher. It was such a visceral feeling, akin to the cringe one gets when watching a horror flick. One of the best performances in any role I have ever seen.

Miles Teller may be overlooked for his relatively less emotive role as Andrew. This is a shame, but he is young and will draw more expansive roles thanks to Whiplash. A star in the making to be sure.

And of course the cinematography and music. The music's excellence is almost a foregone conclusion, but the caliber of the actor-musicians is incredible. Pair that with slick camerawork and jarring smash cuts and you get a wonderful combination, like a jazz piece.

Whiplash is a music film for a generation.