 |
| "Get me a picture of Spider-Man, Parker!" |
There are not many things worse than being humiliated in front of your peers. It's degrading, embarrassing and, somewhat, childish. Being told off or yelled at in front of people, as an adult, is like listening to Russell Crowe in Les Miserables. What I'm saying is it's super uncomfortable. And you need Hugh Jackman to sooth the pain. In both instances. But anyways. Now imagine that you're desperately trying to make it big in your dream profession, at the best school for that profession, and the most revered teacher at that program is the one ripping you apart. Alright, let the pants shitting commence.
Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) is a jazz drummer. Or at least, that's his dream. He wants to be a big time drummer, and he's on his way towards being that at Shaffer Conservatory, the "best music school in the country". Andrew knows the only way to get anywhere at Shaffer is by being on the Studio band, run by Terence Fletcher (JK Simmons, who is not just kidding at any point). So one day Fletcher sees Andrew play, and calls him up to the Studio band, where it is trial by fire. The attitude is either play perfectly, or get ready for a new asshole. Oh, and get the fuck out too. So thus we follow Andrew desperately trying to prove to Fletcher he's the real deal, and Fletcher being the scariest motherfucker since the last time JK Simmons yelled in a movie.
Teller is fantastic as the timid Andrew, who loves music and playing, but, initially, has very little confidence, yet has the talent and drive of a star brimming from him. It's easily the best performance of Teller's career, as he, along with playing all the music in the film himself, takes Andrew through a journey of discovery and blisters that makes you appreciate your parents forcing you to go to med school. There is an inherent ease to how he plays Andrew, and has you sympathetic towards him throughout, despite some of the assholery he is guilty of.
However, the film really belongs to JK Simmons, who steals every god damn scene he's in. The beauty of the character, for me, was that I could never tell what his actual intentions were. Was he trying to make the best jazz band possible? Was he trying to push these kids to find their inner genius and reach that next level? Or did he just like shitting down some millennials throats? It's really a testament to Simmons, who is, most likely, Hollywood's most reliable character actor, that Fletcher can instantly go from berating, to charming to flattering all in the blink of an eye. I don't know if it's his best performance, but it'll bring some much deserved attention to a wonderful actor.
I also have to highlight the music in the film, as it plays out much like the third main character of the film. The songs that Andrew has to learn have a high degree of difficulty (or they may not, I never played drums) and when they are going well, the film has a free flowing jazz feel to it. It really helps to balance the extreme moments of tension. Writer/director Damien Chazelle has really brought a flair to the film that gives it life, along with strong direction and excellent writing that includes insults such as "limp dick faggot", it brings an air of discomfort yet believability to the whole film. The last ten minutes of this film had my stomach in my throat and me on the edge of my seat.
Ultimately, Whiplash is one of the best films of 2014. Carried by two amazing performances, brilliant direction and a love of music. Each scene is filled with tension, menace and jazz, making it one of the years must see films.
Grade: A
