So, there are movies galore released every year, but the vast majority of these fall into safe, reliable categories. Action. Horror. Romantic Comedy. Period Piece. Indie "dramedy". Biopic. So on and so forth. What there seems to be a dearth of in today's movie landscape, particularly since the writer's strike of 5 or so years ago, are truly unique and original films that exist for a purpose. Films with something to say beyond "inspiring" are sadly few and far between.
Enter: Whiplash. First time director Damien Chazelle (He's younger than I am. I hate him.) wrote and directed this look at a drummer in a fictional elite music conservatory and his pursuit of musical excellence. I know, that sounds incredibly dull and like bait for the NPR crowd, but would you believe me if I told you that this film was one of the more kinetic and exciting films of the year?
The Good: This film is incredibly small in scope - 99% of the screentime is occupied by the two leads, and in the capable hands of J.K Simmons (heretofore most recognizable as the guy from those insurance commercials and the dad from Juno) and Miles Simmons (he'll be playing Reed Richards in the Fantastic Four reboot this summer, guys) the quasi-abusive, quasi-fatherly relationship between Andrew and Dr. Terrance Fletcher becomes something great. Not unlike a jazz ensemble, the two feed off of one another, with Simmons bringing an intense physical presence and Teller matching his manic energy nearly step for step. The film is shot and plays like a thriller - with the performance scenes possessing a thrilling, kinetic feel that's unlike anything I can recall in recent years. Simmons' Fletcher is a sadistic bastard, but he's a charming, if maniacal one, and you simply can't keep your eyes off of him. His Best Supporting Actor award was certainly most deserved. Teller nearly matches him - and even though Andrew is a little bit of a prick, you find yourself rooting for the guy.
The Bad: there isn't much, truly, but the film does suffer slightly from its laser-sharp focus. You never get the idea that any of these people actually LIKE music. Maybe that's accurate from a music conservatory - lord knows I wouldn't have the slightest idea, but from what I know about jazz, I'm not sure that rote memorization is quite the route to excellence. That's a piddly critique, though. This film is great, even if Fletcher is occasionally hard to watch.
In all, this isn't just one of the best movies of the last few years, it's a perfect example of why movies have such value as an art form and storytelling medium. Through the power of film, we're able to experience a story about a jazz drummer that plays like a terse crime thriller.... and that's amazing. Come for the performances, stay for the kinetic film-making.
9.5/10
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