"Whiplash"

I have been reviewing movies for a little while now, and any readers will possibly be aware that I do not given out the highest score very often, in fact I try and award just one a year, thus making it the Best film of the Year. That may be tricky to do during 2015, and here is why..........

Andrew loves to play the drums, and he clearly has some skill with the said instrument. He is a student at a prestigious Academy, and one day he finds himself being watched by Terence Fletcher, who is one of the Music teachers. During this short meeting he believes that he does very little to impress Fletcher of his talent, but he is proved wrong, when he soon finds himself sat amongst the players that make up the band that Fletcher has assembled. There is a regular Drummer, Carl, so whilst he plays, Andrew sits, watches, and turns the pages of his music sheets for him. But soon enough, Andrew is sat in the hot seat. His first session goes well, and he is rather pleased with himself. Here he is, playing in a band for a tutor he truly admires, and someone he wants to impress, and prove he is worthy to be a part of the band.
Fletcher has a love of music, and a passion for the band he has assembled, attending regular competitions, and he only regards there to be one place, there is no prize for second place in his opinion. He rules over his band with total discipline, but he also get results, truly great music performed at the highest level.
And if Fletcher has an obsession to master the perfect band, then equally Andrew has that same level to be part of it, no matter what the cost. After getting his place in Fletcher's Band he feels cocky, and finally asks the girl who works in the local cinema for a date. Romance blooms, but Andrew soon sees it as a hurdle to what he wishes to achieve.
But soon it becomes clear that the high standards that Fletcher expects come at a price. And is it one that Andrew is willing to pay?  He intimidates the Band members, they truly fear him, barely being able to look him in the eye. He will glady belittle them, play members off against each other, if he thinks there is a chance they it will improve the quality of their playing.
It sounds like pure mental torture but there is physical pain too, as the constant playing and practicing makes their hands bleed. Their sweat and blood literally dripping onto the drums.

Will Andrew become a member of the Award winning Band?  Will the intense pressure cause him to have a breakdown?

J. K. Simmons is one of those actors that when you see his face, you may not automatically recall his name, or remember the last film you saw him in, but he is an actor that you will have almost certainly seen him in something. Rest assured, everyone will remember him after "Whiplash". He gives such an electrifying performance, one of the best I have seen in a long time. Every aspect is spot on, from the look of the character, who even intimidates just by being dressed in black, that lined face, his physique, to the voice, one which commands to be heard, you listen and obey every instruction you are given. When Simmons is on screen you cannot take your eyes off him. It is as good a performance as any I have ever seen.
But like a pair of great bookends, one complimenting the other, there is the dazzling performance from Miles Teller as 'Andrew'. He is profile is increasing having done several crowd pleasing movies, but in "Whiplash" he shows he can really act. As a lover of the Cinema, it gives one just the greatest of joy watching Miles and J. K. on screen together.

I guarantee that if you do not have a love of jazz at the start of the film, then you will by the end. There are some great toe tapping tunes included in the movie. I am already looking into buying the CD soundtrack.

For such a great piece of Cinema, one would expect it to come from someone who has honed their craft but remarkably it comes from a relative newcomer, Damien Chazelle, who has only done a couple of prior movies. He has a real cinematic flair, he has brought together all the key elements of a great movie, (cinematography, editing, writing and performance) so beautifully. I would doubt the likes of Spielberg or Scorsese could improve on this film.

What is especially worthy of note is that the film is not as much of an open book as one would expect, there are a few surprises in store, which just adds to the brilliance.

I cannot praise the film enough, especially Chazelle, Teller and Simmons. This mighty trio have created a truly outstanding piece of Cinema. It does not get much better than this......10 out of 10