Sensational from start to finish

Rating: 8/10 (6 January 2015)

Whiplash reminded me of just how much I love films, it made me feel alive, it was an exhilarating experience from start to finish, and it's without a shadow of a doubt the best film of 2014. The most disturbing thing is just how taken aback I was by the genius of Whiplash.
There is a staunch invigorating sense of malice about it, there is tension that ebbs and flows and builds and the result is a work of inspired genius that leaves you pleading for more. The film is edited deliberately like a finely tuned instrument hitting every line of dialogue and composing every shot with the sharpest precision. The cuts are meticulously crafted with the strongest effect possible. There is an arresting visceral sensibility about it. There is a heavy emphasis throughout the film on the investment of blood and sweat required to play a piece of music perfectly in tune, in tempo and on time.
Though not the primary genre of music I listen to I can certainly recognize that writer/director Damien Chazelle is intensely knowledgeable on Jazz as a subject matter, this holds him in good stead to deliver something purely inspirational with this film. Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons develop a relationship of tectonic razor sharp attrition the likes of which I've never witnessed. It's a two man show of relentless ferocity. Teller is astounding as a musician with aspirations of great. Teller is given the much less flashy role of anchoring the movie in an emotional core, he pulls it off flawlessly. Simmons' performance is nothing short of brilliant as the coach whose heavy handed tactics and unique methods he believes will reward him with a great student. Simmons chews up the scenery at every given opportunity. His character is possessed by an anecdote relating to Charlie Parker reaching the pinnacle of jazz drumming after getting a symbol thrown at his head. He is rooted in the ideology that pushing people beyond what is expected of him will get him the results he craves. It is through the underlying rooting of these ideas through the characters that give it that extra layer of texture that allows it to reach higher in during the centerpiece moments of the film.
There is an integral understanding of the fine line that exists between abuse and pushing someone mercilessly towards notorious greatness. The finale is engaging, pulsating, exhausting and uplifting. I was on the edge of my seat, the hairs were standing up on the back of my neck, and it was a sheer joy.
There may be some who are not as taken with it by its very nature, a movie about jazz drumming I guess doesn't sound very exciting on paper. Synopses are lame; they never capture the true vision of the piece that can only be encapsulated by the sensory delights of the viewing experience. I was floored, shocked and amazing at its strength of conviction. It put a smile and my face and a beat in my head for hours afterwards. I am truly thankful for Whiplash, it was a film firmly rooted in the ideas of what a film should be. It had an in depth knowledge and understanding of its subject matter and showed the ability to be fearless and step out of the often stiflingly rigid narrative structures. It's not afraid to be bold and take risks at the same time. It was the definition of sensational.