Directed by Damien Chazelle
January 2015
Whiplash (15)
Starring Miles Teller, JK Simmons, Melissa Benoist
Simmons pours scorn on encouragement and praise, believing only by refusing to accept anything less than excellence can a musician improve. His methods are intense and brutal - more Joe Pesci in Goodfellas than Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting. On the other hand, Teller takes it all; even ditching drippy girlfriend so she won't distract him, and proving himself a pretty obnoxious ass himself when lording it over sports playing relatives.
What I especially liked was the uncompromising lack of syrup. This is no feel-good, uplifting tale. It is blackly comic and one of the most tense films I've seen in a while. It really keeps you guessing about whether Simmons actually had a heart or really is just a mean bastard!
Great performances - JK Simmons deservedly taking home Best Supporting Actor this year but Miles Teller was fantastic too. However, Simmons is probably the scariest, most uncompromising bastard we've seen onscreen in a long time. Not exactly a role model for teachers though!
A fabulously gripping and involving film. Ignore the unpromising premise.
Try to keep up! Definitely my tempo!
9/10
Back to Movies page
Back to main page