Whiplash is electrifying! Intense, inspiring and compelling this film pulses to a dazzling and irresistible beat, and is a brilliant sophomore effort from director Damien Chazell. The film picked up two awards at the Sundance Film Festival – the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Prize. It’s doing pretty well on the internet too, IMDB gave it an 8.2 score and it’s rated ‘fresh’ on Rotten Tomatoes with a whopping 8.6 score.
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What is so wonderful about this story, and what makes it so compelling to watch is the striving for greatness. We live in a world that worships excellence but runs on mediocrity and most of us will never feel the thrill of high flying achievement. There is such a great difference between trying your best and being the best at something. And this fact is the subject of Whiplash.
The basic storyline ((C) Sony Classics): Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) is an ambitious young jazz drummer, single-minded in his pursuit to rise to the top of his elite east coast music conservatory. Plagued by the failed writing career of his father, Andrew hungers day and night to become one of the greats. Terence Fletcher (J. K. Simmons), an instructor equally known for his teaching talents as for his terrifying methods, leads the top jazz ensemble in the school. Fletcher discovers Andrew and transfers the aspiring drummer into his band, forever changing the young man’s life. Andrew’s passion to achieve perfection quickly spirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher continues to push him to the brink of both his ability-and his sanity.
Highly acclaimed by critics and the press this is a must-watch movie. Rolling Stone put it rather perfectly: “Beat the drums for a Simmons Oscar, and add a cymbal crash for ‘Whiplash.’ It’s electrifying.”
Limited Release: October 2014 Worldwide release: January 2015
