Whiplash

Whiplash

Rating 6.5 out of 10

I wanted to see this film from the first preview.  I think J.K. Simmons may be the best character actor of our times and the plot looked interesting.  I was mostly right.  This movie is a crazy look at the ultra intense world of jazz musicians at a top of the world music conservatory/college.

Miles Teller is a likable young actor that I enjoyed in an underrated movie That Awkward Moment.  He plays a very promising drummer hell bent on being the greatest jazz drummer of all time no matter what the cost to his personal life.  Simmons is the top of the hill instructor for the best school in the land that all jazz musicians dream of playing for.  You watch what you wish for as he makes Simon Cowell seem like your favorite sweet uncle.  Verbal and even physical abuse is expected.  Years of great playing can be down the tubes with one bad effort.  Simmons has never been better and very much deserves his Oscar Nomination.  Your gut gets a knot in it when he starts jumping on a terrified jazz musician.

I feel the key to whether you like this movie or LOVE this movie depends on your affection for Jazz music.  A wise person told me once about Jazz music is like that joke your friend tells and many in the room die laughing and I don't get it.  I know Teller is doing a great job on the drums as the camera is showing sweat pouring off his forehead and his fingers are bleeding.  My problem is I couldn't tell the greatest drum solo from someone very good on Xbox Rock Band game.  A 12 minute drum solo will send some to ecstasy.  It has me looking at my watch.

I enjoyed this movie.  Not sure how strongly I could recommend it.  J.K Simmons truly deserves his Oscar nomination.  It's a shame Miles Teller can't get something.  If there were six Best Actor nominations he would be high on the list. Interesting movie.