On the face of it, Whiplash could have been a rather typical aggressive mentor/put-upon student narrative, with a hopeful drummer clashing with his ideologically opposed teacher. And while it shares all the broad narrative elements with that sort of story, Damien Chazelle brings heightened stakes and involved intensity that push the film to unique greatness. Andrew isn't just some student trying hard to excel. Ge is, without compare, the best; an incredibly talented drummer at the best music school in the country, knowingly capable of greatness. And yet, even with natural talent and a self-destructive drive he still has to put himself through emotional and physical trauma to even be in with a shot of making it. It's an extreme look at fame and success. J.K. Simmons is more than deserving of his mantlepiece busting plaudits, as is Miles Teller as the brutalised Andrew. The pair share an abusive relationship that feeds on the desire for respect The film takes drumming, for all its kineticism a hard sound to appreciate, and makes it instantly engaging, tuning the audience into what makes the music so lyrical. All this culminates in the final scene, where Andrew and Fletcher showdown on stage at Carnegie Hall. The tensest scene from this year (and that includes Mad Max), it gives new, literal meaning to the term "edge of your seat".
