10 Most Rewatchable Films This Decade (So Far)
2. Whiplash
A film about someone learning to master playing the drums probably sounds dull and repetitive on paper. In the hands of writer-director Damien Chazelle the result is anything but boring. With Whiplash he's crafted a film which keeps time with the jazz soundtrack, building the dramatic tempo and peaking with an unforgettable crescendo.
Whiplash charts the increasingly fractious relationship between music student Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) and his ruthless teacher Terrence Fletcher (J. K. Simmons), who pushes the upcoming drummer to breaking point in his commitment to settling for nothing less than perfection. Anyone who has ever strived for greatness in any artistic field understands Neiman's dedication, and the frustrations which comes from striving to live up to near-impossible high standards.
Chazelle's drama comes together from a combination of tight scripting and great performances, particularly Simmons as the brutal teacher who will stop at nothing to push his students' abilities to the limit. His intense volatility, playing back and forth with Teller's increasing determination, is mesmerising to watch and - like all truly great music - seems to improve each time you revisit it. The fact that Chazelle made Whiplash when he was just 29 makes the achievement all the more impressive.