Drumming up Genius

Rating: 9/10 (21 March 2015)

Every now and then a movie comes along like Whiplash, were its transcendent themes, flawless performances and direction make it an instant classic.
The movie examines an old-school, lambasting style of teaching which is cruel in action but good in its intent. It asks how far should someone go to push another to greatness and at what point are they pushing them away.
The story focuses on the Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), an ambitious young jazz drummer, who is attending Shaffer Conservatory of Music, the most prestigious music school in America.
Andrew has always been a loner and this remains the case at Shaffer where he is picked on by classmates and has no close friends. As a result Andrew spends his free time going to the movies with his father (Paul Reiser) and listening to his drumming hero Buddy Rich.
During a late night practice session, Andrew's dedication and talent catches the attention of Terence Fletcher (JK Simmons), the school's most ruthless teacher whose intense methods are legendary.
Fletcher recruits Andrew to play in the schools top band which he runs akin to a military boot camp. Feelings and dignity take a rhythmic beating in Fletchers obsessive pursuit in driving his students to play pitch perfect jazz. His special interest in Andrew sees him bear the brunt of his unrelenting teaching style and he must endure many a metaphorical cymbal thrown at his head.
Andrew succumbs to the constant mind game by falling into a state of obsession to please the unpleasable Fletcher. He drums until his hands bleed and shaves off all other elements of his life in fear they will only hold him back from eminence.
One flaw is the supporting characters are one dimensional, inserted into the story purely to serve the main characters, although this is only a minor gripe due to the sheer magnetism of the leads.
The director is able to draw the audience into the beauty of jazz in both setting and sound. Close-up shots of player's instruments show their intricate details and the dark lighting sets the scene for the emotional battles and musical performances in Shaffer's old rehearsal rooms.
The grandiose jazz music will have you tapping along in your seat and feeling the same frustration as the musicians each time Fletcher cuts off the music mid-play with a swift clench of his fist, as you yearn for more.