Review of Whiplash (2014) by Patrick C — 11 Jun 2015

29 -year old Damien Chazelle launches what should be a promising career with Whiplash, an intense, emotionally grueling experience with a Rocky-style ending that will absolutely knock viewers out of their seats!

Miles Teller (The Spectacular Now; Divergent) plays Andrew, a young drummer at an exclusive music school, who is dazzled to be chosen by the most sought after instructor at his conservatory. Fletcher's jazz band is the pinnacle of achievement for any ambitious student. But Andrew soon finds out that Fletcher, played with glorious fire and brimstone by character actor J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man; Juno), is an uncompromising, impossible to satisfy task master of the highest order. His training crosses the line into physical and emotional abuse, and Andrew finds himself all the more eager to please - and best - his mentor.

Simmons is pure adrenaline giving a performance that has already won him multiple awards and most likely the Oscar next month. He comes on like R. Lee Ermey's drill sergeant in Full Metal Jacket, unrepentant, uncompromising, and unforgiving of even the slightest infraction. Teller, a young actor navigating his way through YA material like the Divergent series and soon to play Mr. Fantastic in the Fantastic Four reboot, gets the role of his life here.

The finale of this film is so powerful it will have viewers on their feet when the two leads faceoff on stage. Will Fletcher finally crush Andrew's dreams forever and drive him away from music, or will Andrew step up and shatter his tormentor's hateful cynicism.

Whiplash has received 5 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It opens to today in Charleston. It's an unmissable experience.