J K Simmons Deserves Oscar

Rating: 8/10 (17 January 2015)

JK Simmons is a teacher at a prestigious music school in New York City; obviously Julliard, but the name is changed here, but it doesn't matter, the story is a compelling one with Miles Teller as an aspiring drummer who falls under the wrath of Simmons(Mr. Fletcher). The man is a Vince Lombardi type of instructor who treats everyone with equal contempt in order to get the best out of them. I am not a fan of jazz, but I as a music lover, I was able to appreciate the struggles of musicians of any kind. Teller is excellent as the kid who plays so hard that his hands bleed, and Paul Reiser appears as his supportive father. Simmons has been nominated for best supporting actor and he should take home the Oscar. I remember him playing a neo Nazi on the HBO series "Oz" and he is clearly a great character actor. Whiplash is one of the best movies of 2014.