I Would Tell The Filmmakers "Good Job", But....

Rating: 9/10 (17 October 2014)

What do you get when you have two of the best performers of their generation, a razor-sharp script, and a director with a passion for music? You get Whiplash - one of the most intense, energetic and enormously entertaining films you will see all year. You will sweat, your heart rate will increase and you won't be able to draw your eyes away from the madness happening on screen.
The story follows Andrew (Miles Teller) a nineteen-year-old drummer who only has one aspiration - to be one of the greats, no matter the costs. He attends a prestigious music in New York, though is subjugated to the sidelines as back-up for the core players. However, he gets the attention of the school's infamous music teacher Terrence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) and joins his advanced class, where he is exposed to the intensive training/borderline mental torture his ensemble endures for the ultimate pursuit of excellence.
This movie is electrifying. Whether it's Simmon's masterful performance that could have been cartoonish, if it wasn't for the nuance he gives his character, or Teller's restrained portrayal full of loneliness and built up frustration. The real stars of the movie is the phenomenal music and editing, building constant tension and even a small sense of dread up until it's breathtaking finale.
This movie is a roller-coaster ride, bustling with energy scene to scene. It never let's up in it's 100 minute running time, narrative-wise or stylistically, the film is simply one of the best of the year. Damien Chazelle has crafted a kinetic masterpiece that has put his names down as one of the new directors on the block to keep an eye on. Don't miss this one.