WHIPLASH – The Review

WHIPLASH has been one of the most talked about films of the year, and with good reason! Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons give incredible performances that leave audiences in awe.

Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) is an ambitious young drummer fighting against all odds to be the best. His parents are certainly not on board, yet Andrew will do everything in his power to achieve greatness. While attending a music conservatory on the east coast, Andrew lands a once in a lifetime opportunity to play for Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), a professor known for having one of the best jazz ensembles in the country. Andrew soon becomes obsessed with mastering his craft while Terence is dead set on either breaking his spirit or making him the best drummer he can possibly be.

From the first moments of this film it’s clear that there is a lot of talent on the screen. Miles Teller pours his heart and soul into the character of Andrew, and it shows. Almost all of the drumming in the film is Teller, and he spent quite a bit of time on his craft prior to filming. When you see blood on that drum kit, it’s Tellers. That’s what I call dedication. We’ve seen the funny, snarky side of Teller, and a bit of an emotional side, but this is a different ballgame. His characters obsession with becoming the best is a growing constant in thes film, and Teller brings it.

J.K. Simmons is equally talented as the tough-as-nails Terence Fletcher. His ability to switch between compassionate, invested mentor and demon teacher is beyond impressive. The two shine together. It’s like watching an amazing tennis match where the two just keep the ball in play. They work well together.

Director Damien Chazelle creates a world where perfection and fear are a thriving force. Andrew is so driven towards perfection that he is willing to sacrifice everything, including his personal life to achieve it. Despite the abusive nature of his relationship with Terrence, he continues to go back for more because he sees just how much he is improving. It’s almost like a drug… a drug that audiences cannot stop taking! The film poses the question of how far is to far in order to achieve a goal. The answer… as far as it takes if you truly want it. A film about hard work and dedication is a breath of fresh air, as opposed to the instant gratification world that we currently live in.

I cannot say enough good things about this film. If you want to see great actors spar with each other, this is the film for you.

OVERALL RATING : 4.5 out of 5 stars

For More Info : http://sonyclassics.com/whiplash

WHIPLASH is in theaters now