WHIPLASH (2014)

Genre: Drama
Director: Damien Chazelle
Cast: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Austin Stowell, Jayson Blair, Kavita Patil, Michael D. Cohen
RunTime: 1 hr 45 mins
Rating: NC-16 (Coarse Language)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website: http://sonyclassics.com/whiplash/

Opening Day: 15 January 2015

Synopsis: A young and talented drummer (Miles Teller) attending a prestigious music academy finds himself under the wing of the most respected professor (J.K. Simmons) at the school, one who does not hold back on abuse towards his students. The two form an odd relationship as the student tries to achieve greatness, and the professor tries to stop him.

Movie Review:

This reviewer used to be from the symphonic band, and remembers how much time was spent in rehearsal rooms, trying to perfect that tune with his comrades. National band competitions were a big deal. And it is so big a deal that people would crumble and break into tears if the school didn’t clinch a gold medal. Two decades later, this writer asks himself: How is artistic perfection achieved? Is there such a thing as perfection in art? At what price and to what length can an individual delve into to attain that perfection? Damien Chazelle’s highly engaging drama film tackles all those questions, and more – much much more.

The premise sounds simple enough: An ambitious young jazz drummer, like any other aspiring musician who wants great things in his life, pursues his dream in an elite music conservatory. He isn’t particularly awed by his father’s failed writing career, and becomes obsessed with becoming a legendary drummer. Enter an instructor who is known for his teaching talents and discovering great musicians. This guy isn’t joking when he tells you to buck up. Known for his tyrannical teaching methods, he also leads the top jazz band in the school. These two characters come together, and the teacher will push the student to an edge so dangerous, sanity is at stake.

In 2013, writer director Chazelle, himself a former drums student, made a short film Whiplash and took home the jury award at Sundance Film Festival’s US fiction category. Last year, the feature film premiered in competition and opened the prestigious independent film festival. It went on to receive the top audience and grand jury awards in the US dramatic competition.

Then people started to take note of this 106 minute film, which is a good thing of course. Sony Pictures Worldwide acquired the international distribution rights, and people started talking about the power of this well crafted piece of work. It is hard to take your eyes off the screen once the movie starts. Miles Teller (The Spectacular Now, That Awkward Moment) plays the drumming protégé Andrew Neiman. The 27 year old American actor, a musician himself, portrays this rather unlikable kid. But one can’t help sympathising him the moment JK Simmons’ (Thank You for Smoking, Burn After Reading) Terence Fletcher comes into the picture.

Simmons, whom we all know as J Jonah Jameson (the editor in chief at the Daily Bugle) in Sam Raimi’s Spider Man trilogy, has been getting great acclaim for his unforgettable role as a terrifying and monstrous mentor, will send shivers down any viewer’s spine. You giggle nervously as he hurls expletives as Teller. Heck, this petrifying character is the epitome of terror, and will inflict horror on anyone in his way. The actor has already won numerous prizes for his hauntingly memorable performance, including a Best Supporting Actor accolade at the Golden Globes earlier this week. We are pretty certain of an Oscar nomination, and a highly possible Oscar win. 

The film is a gleefully interesting character study. As the perfectly edited film progresses, you begin to empathise where both characters are coming from. The student is pursuing a dream, and the teacher wants nothing more than perfection for the young apprentice. When the movie ends with its dramatic finale, when the final beat is heard before the screen goes to black, you feel like you’ve lived through the painful joy of creating art.        

Movie Rating:

(A dauntingly powerful piece of work with unforgettable performances from JK Simmons and Miles Teller, its brutally riveting tone will grip you for the film’s entire duration)

Review by John Li