REVIEW #449 Whiplash (2014) Cinematic Re-Release

Whiplash

Synopsis

Talented drummer Andrews, joins a musical conservatory and is mentored by one of the best in the business. But his unconventional training methods push his students to the brink of collapse.

My Review

Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash is a standing testament to the power of cinema, a perfect symphony between performances, musical score, direction and cinematography. Creating an anxiety inducing masterpiece that is incredibly self contained and small in scale, yet one that leaves a lasting impact on you, far beyond the films conclusion. Running the risk of pure hyperbole here, albeit deserved, the ending sequence is one of my all time favourite conclusions! Just as you think it’s all over for Andrew, with Terrence cementing himself as the vindictive antagonist we all believed him to be, the two align in a beautiful display of music that symbolises the films theme of sacrifice in the pursuit of greatness. In the process JK Simmons won the Academy Award for best supporting actor, which he earned ten fold and I am not alone when I say I believe it to be one of the best supporting performances of all time. Teller unfortunately missed out on his accolade but his performance is stellar too and his dedication to the role and the drums, shines through in the movie.

My Rating: 10 out of 10