Whiplash
Roads to greatness take you to the edge
Whiplash is one of the best films I have ever seen, which for a modern film is a very rare comment. This film will go down as an all-time classic and will claim it’s rightful place amongst the Greats, alongside thought provoking masterpieces such as Casablanca, On the Waterfront, Brief Encounter, Bicycle Thieves, Saving Private Ryan and my personal all-time favourite, The Third Man.
Every second of Whiplash will keep you on the edge of your seat through to the end of the movie, which is possibly the best 20 minutes of any film shot in the 21st century, at which point you will probably fall over in total disbelief. This film will inspire you to go and find something that is unfinished in your life and you will complete it. This film will motivate you and give you confidence, how often has that been said about any movie.
The story line follows a music student Andrew Nieman (Miles Teller) at an affluent music college in New York. Andrew is a keen drummer and wants to become the best the world has ever seen or heard. Before long Andrew is selected to join the top class in the school, run by Terrence Fletcher (J.K Simmons), whose mentoring can range from an ideal motivator to a down-right psychotic bully. Eventually the pressures take Andrew down a road which few people would dare to tread. Whiplash flies by in the blink of any eye, the 100 minute run-time does not waste a single frame. It is the fastest paced film that I have ever seen. This is one of the best major directorial debuts of all-time up there with Orson Welles’s Citizen Kane, Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men and David Lean’s In Which We Serve. Once seen, it will never be forgotten.
10/10 – Calum Roberts
