Whiplash

 While 2014 hasn't been the best of years, that's not to say there hasn't been some pretty damn good films that came out this year, and a lot of music related films. “Begin Again,” “Jersey Boys,” “Get On Up,” they were films about musicians trying to get up on their feet and into the eyes of the public, and succeeding greatly. However, neither of those films, nor any other film this entire year was about as good or as intense as the film I'm talking about today. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...“Whiplash.”

“Whiplash” tells the story of Andrew Neyman, a college freshman, who wants to be among one of the next great drummers in history. When he's called to join Terrance Fletcher's class, which he's heard is where the music talent comes from at the college, he soon finds out that Fletcher is one of the most ruthless and hardcore people you could ever meet.

The film is a psychological battle between Andrew and Fletcher, as you have a student who self-trained himself to drum, now being taught by a guy who pushes you far past your limit, to unleash true greatness, but in the harshest way possible. Everyone has had that boss or teacher that is extremely hard on you, but there is always a reasoning behind such actions. This film perfectly shows that, and it is without a doubt the most intense, nail-biting, experience I've had in a movie theater all year. Not even the big blockbusters that I've seen this summer had this much tension as “Whiplash” did.

Miles Teller as Andrew Neyman, what can I say? This guy is such a damn good actor, and this performance is without a doubt his best. He has said on occasion that he learned to play the drums long before he started acting, and boy does he put that to the test. I know that they say he had doubles for some shots, but with how the film was constructed, I didn't really care about that. Much like with “Nightcrawler,” I didn't see Miles Teller; all I saw in the film was Andrew Neyman, putting his sweat, tears, and blood, literally all of that, into his drumming performances. If you still have doubt about Miles Teller playing Reed Richards in the new “Fantastic Four” or Dan Aykroyd in the upcoming Belushi biopic, just watch this performance and reconsider that. Those two films have a great actor in their hands, and anybody who says otherwise can go fuck themselves. Hell, not even getting hit by a car stops this guy's determination. It really is a tough competition this year, because if it wasn't for all of these great performances coming out this year, I would definitely want Teller to be nominated for Best Actor.

However, if there is one Oscar choice that I agree with everyone on, it's J.K. Simmons for Best Supporting Actor as Terrance Fletcher. For those of you who are still wishing for J.K. Simmons to reprise his role of J. Jonah Jameson in any future Spiderman films, your wish is partially granted with “Whiplash.” Fletcher is as if Jameson went full on Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, dishing out insults that are really funny, but you feel bad for it because of how hardcore it is. Simmons is already nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, so I'm hoping he's gets that AND the Oscar as well.

I still hold to how this intense the movie is. The ending is one of the most perfect endings to any movie I've seen in the past decade. It was rising and rising in it's peak, and it ends at the right point where it needs to. No bullshit, just perfection. I was in an audience of about four or five people, and I still stood up and applauded for this movie, because it was THAT satisfying of an ending. Not only do I wish a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Simmons, but I also want a Best Editing and Best Picture nomination.

Overall, “Whiplash” was just fantastic to watch! I loved this movie from start to finish, and I hope to buy it when it comes out on blu-ray. The acting was great, the direction was great, the editing was great, it's a great film! If AMC theaters does a Best Picture marathon, I hope this film will be on the list. If it does, check it out as soon as you can.

Rating: 10/10