Plot: Andrew (Miles Teller) is a talented drummer at the best music school in the country. When he gets the opportunity to train under renowned instructor Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), Andrew gets more than he bargained for as Fletcher’s intense training methods test Andrew beyond any limits he thought possible, and potentially to the breaking point.
I’m tempted to say call off the Oscar race right now. I know we still have over two months of great films left, but I can’t imagine seeing a better movie this year than what I just saw. Whiplash is one of those films where the director and writer (Damien Chazelle on both accounts) can drop the mic and say “I’m done.” At a run time of just under two hours, my eyes never left the screen. It’s a simple two character piece that reverberates throughout the entire theater. I was riveted. As much praise and accolades as Damien Chazelle deserves, we have to start with the two actors who take this script and run with it. It looks like we got our first slot filled for the Best Supporting Actor category. J.K. Simmons, where have you been all my life?
J.K. Simmons is certainly an actor who’s been around the block. He’s always on his A-game, and was the one good piece from that horrific Sam Raimi Spider-man trilogy. Even with all the work he’s done though, I had no idea he had this kind of talent. This guy has been severely underutilized. In Whiplash, Simmons plays highly-respected music teacher Fletcher, who basically runs his class like a drill instructor on steroids. If he chooses you to be in his studio band, you’re on your way to musical heaven. Unfortunately you have to get through musical hell first, and many don’t survive.
What’s brilliant about this character is that he’s established perfectly from the very first scene of the movie. As soon as he walks in the door, you get it. The look on Simmons’ face is pitch perfect acting. Once Andrew enters his classroom, there’s no going back. You are nervous the entire time. What’s even more incredible about this script and performance though is there are times when Fletcher is being somewhat nice and encouraging, but the movie does a great job of making that even more uncomfortable. He’s a ticking time bomb, and the tension is played up flawlessly. I can’t say enough about Simmons’ performance – he’s scary, crazy, hilarious, vulnerable, and anything else you can think of, it’s probably there. What takes this even one notch further is that you never really know where he stands. Does he genuinely want to make you the greatest musician in the world, or does he completely want to break you down? The movie jolts you back and forth from the opening frame to the very last.
We’ve been talking a lot about Simmons, but there’s another actor here who does just as good a job. Miles Teller has arrived. Wow. As the main character who has to take the brunt of Fletcher’s abuse, we need to like and sympathize with this kid, and you do. Andrew is reserved and nervous, but it’s very clear there’s also a confidence and drive about him. My one criticism of this movie is his character shift happens way too fast. Once he gets a tiny bit of praise from Fletcher, he becomes a complete cocky jerk, but a very likable jerk. There’s a great dinner scene between him and his cousins where he hilariously displays his new found arrogance. While a very well-written scene, the way he behaves was a little too abrupt.
Where Teller shines though is when he’s working his absolute hardest to impress Fletcher. As he plays faster and faster, Teller’s facial expressions emote beautifully what the character is going through – he looks like an absolute mad man. While part of you is impressed at what Andrew is accomplishing, you’re also terrified he’s about to snap. Teller will no doubt get Oscar consideration as well.
To be honest, there aren’t many other characters who are important to the story. Paul Reiser plays Andrew’s dad and accomplishes what he needs to. Melissa Benoist does a good job at playing Andrew’s girlfriend, who’s an important character when it comes to showing how Fletcher has radically changed Andrew. The decision to keep the focus entirely on Andrew and Fletcher without cluttering it up with subplots was 100% the right call.
There are so many incredible scenes that take place in this movie, I don’t even want to mention them. What elevates this story even more is that it’s one of the few films that truly has something to say. Fletcher is an extraordinary character. In a society where we hand out participation ribbons for breathing, this is an important movie that must be seen. I’m not saying I agree with everything Fletcher does in this film, but he’s a character that should be heard. Fletcher delivers one of the best written lines I’ve heard on film in probably the last 15 years.
I feel bad because I’ve probably built this movie up way too much, and now you’ll inevitably be disappointed. Sorry. It really is a remarkable film though. The movie puts you through a lot of twists and turns, and has an ending that’s so damn good, I wanted to rip up the seats and shout “YES!” Writer/Director Damien Chazelle is 29 years old with a bright career ahead of him. Whiplash is a masterful piece of film making, and I’ll shut up now.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10 (O..M…G)
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Daniel Cohen is the Film Editor for Pop-Break. Aside from reviews, Daniel does a weekly box office predictions column, and also contributes monthly Top Tens and Op-Ed’s on all things film. Daniel is a graduate of Bates College with a degree in English, and also studied Screenwriting at UCLA. He can also be read on www.movieshenanigans.com. His movie crush is Jessica Rabbit. Follow him on Twitter @dcohenwriter.
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