"Whiplash" Review

No matter what your taste in film or television is, you have seen or heard J.K. Simmons somewhere. You just may never have put a name to the face. But he's always been around. He's just never been as spectacular as he has in Whiplash. 

Andrew Neimann is a first year drum student at Shaffer Conservatory. He is desperate to impress Terrence Fletcher, the studio band conductor with noted prestige. He is accepted into the band, but is pushed to his limits by Fletcher's ruthless methods, and soon questions himself. 

When one watches Whiplash, one is reminded of Black Swan and how it shined a light on the unseen brutality of ballet dancing. This movie does the same for music. It's enlightening, dark, if not a little derivative, yet still strong enough to stand on it's own legs as a movie. The amount of mental engagement and the amount of strength that the musicians show really contributes to how strong the film dabbles in realism. 

However, the film gets off to a bit of a lull. It certainly leads to some unexpected and fascinating places, but the first act lacks any real punch besides J.K. Simmons. In fact, his performance may be TOO good for the film. It almost lessens the power of the other players until around Act II. It leads somewhere amazing, but like any good horse race, you want a real race right out of the gate. 

If I am to be honest, I wasn't really interested in Miles Teller before this movie. He reminded me too much of Jonah Hill. (Especially the voice.) Yet we get a really strong performance from him in Whiplash. His determination and frustration is strongly underplayed until the right moments. 

But J.K. Simmons. Oh my gosh. There is an amazing power to Simmons' performance. He steals absolutely every scene with his command and gravitas. He paints such a broad spectrum that illuminates the screen. One moment screaming, another comforting. There is an awe that just comes from his mere presence. He can scare the hell out of you with just his gaze. This is an absolute lock for the Oscar.

Whiplash is certainly a strong movie, even if it doesn't start that way. But the real power is that of J.K. Simmons. 

B+