Thursday, January 28, 2016

WHIPLASH (2014)

FILMS FROM THE 21st CENTURY
(Post 30 of 50)

Some quick takes on the most relatively recent listings from the
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list


My preconception of Whiplash was this was probably going to be another one of those inspirational teacher movies pushing his star music student to excel. It is that in part, but Mr. Fletcher (the teacher) comes across as more Full Metal Jacket drill instructor than as the beloved teacher from Goodbye, Mr. Chips.

The film is dominated by J. K. Simmons as Fletcher, the relentless music instructor and is intimidating every time he comes on the screen. Luckily, Miles Teller as his student drummer is also very good, which gives the adversarial relationship between the two a nice dramatic balance. Simmons won the Oscar for his role, as I think the Academy was afraid he might yell at them if they didn't.

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