A triumph! No, really. Whiplash literally is.

Rating: 9/10 (5 February 2015)

Gut-wrenching. Intense. At times uncomfortable. At times triumphant. This is what you can expect from Whiplash. If you find yourself easily put in the shoes of sympathetic characters, then be prepared. This may be an emotional ride. J.K Simmons plays Fletcher, a music professor at a highly-regarded music school (think Juliard) who is very passionate about his work. Andrew's (Miles Teller) talent on the drums soon catches the renowned teacher's eye, and he is brought into an elite class of jazz musicians. But Andrew couldn't have predicted the price his new mentor will expect for this "honor". Simmons is more often seen in comedic roles than not, but that doesn't stop him from owning the show here as the antagonist. He's lean, and he's mean. Teller is relatively new to the game, yet he disappears into the depressed yet willful introvert that is Andrew, and shares the screen well with the more seasoned Simmons. Paul Riser (of Mad About You fame) makes a return to cinema here as Andrew's father, and Melissa Benoist of Glee fame makes her big screen debut as a love interest - enjoyable performances by both. If you've ever felt singled out by a superior, or striven for the impossible, you just may connect with this movie, and be thankful for the ride.