“Whiplash” is one of the great indie triumphs of the year. It is exhilarating and suspenseful – daring and dark, with two scintillating performances. Miles Teller (“The Spectacular Now”) plays Andrew Neyman, a percussion student at the fictional and prestigious Schaffer School of Music in NYC. In his first semester at the school, Andrew is quickly noticed by the school’s top teacher, Mr. Fletcher, who is also the conductor of Schaffer’s most important group – the competition jazz band. Fletcher decides to bring Andrew into his class.
Andrew has no idea what he’s getting himself into. Initially, he, and the audience, think that Fletcher is simply strict. But what long-time character actor J.K. Simmons (“Juno”, “The Closer”) slowly and shockingly unveils is a persona of Fletcher as a man who is obsessed with the power and control he has over his students – physically, mentally, and emotionally abusing them with his relentless demands of perfection. He is ruthless in his words and actions, instilling fear in every member of the band, who know that if they screw-up they’re out, and their dreams of a career in music could be shattered. And Fletcher decides to push Andrew – hard, escalating as the film progresses, to the breaking point. Their relationship is made up of Blood, Sweat, and Tears…and then some.
But yet, this is not simply the story of a bully teacher and his student. Writer/director Damien Chazelle makes sure to portray Andrew not as a victim, but a willing participant. He is extremely ambitious and cocky. He wants to become one of the all-time greats, and believes he has the talent and drive to get there. He dumps a new girlfriend, has no social life, except for occasional trips to the movies with his dad (the totally authentic Paul Reiser), who can see what’s happening to his son, but is helpless to stop it.
As “Whiplash” turns into a high-stakes battle between teacher and pupil it’s impossible to take your eyes off the screen. The jazz music performed by the band (which, in some ways, is a character in the story) is tremendous. There are elements of the story that push the believability of Andrew’s obsession a little too far, but overall, how Chazelle is able to craft a psychological thriller out of this simple, off-beat premise, is one of the best cinematic accomplishments of the year.
And, above it all, it’s the work of Simmons and Teller that make “Whiplash” a must-see. Teller does most of the on-camera drumming himself, while also handling a highly emotional dramatic role. As for Simmons – this is one of those roles that actors, especially those who never enjoyed the spotlight, can only dream of. It’s amazing that the 59-year old will likely go from being the Farmers’ Insurance TV commercial guy to an Oscar nominee a few months from now. He captivates the screen like a lion, ferociously feasting on his prey. The final 30 minutes of “Whiplash” is a powerhouse jammed with amazing music, intriguing mind games, and superb surprises. It’s no wonder this film won both the Audience Award and Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. As an encore, a Best Picture nomination is not out of the question.
On The Official LCJ Report Card, “Whiplash” gets a B+.