Film: Whiplash

GENRE: Drama

RATING: R for strong language
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 47 minutes

STARRING: Miles Teller (Divergent, The Spectacular Now)

JK Simmons (Juno, Spiderman), Paul Reiser (Mad About You)

DIRECTOR: Damien Chazelle (newcomer)

WRITER: Damien Chazelle (The Last Exorcism Part II)

PLOT: A young drummer is pushed to the limit by an emotionally abusive instructor who will stop at nothing to achieve the student’s potential.  

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 It is so awesome that JK Simmons is finally getting the credit he deserves. He is fantastic in this film. He is so intimidating. I would not want him to instruct me. Give him the Oscar.

2 One has to ask if the instructor’s abusive nature is effective or does the student have lots of self-determination. Something to think about.

3 I respect drummers a lot more now. I can barely hold a beat.

4 There’s a great dinner conversation where the musician puts the football player in his place. As an artist, it made me smile.

5 Raisnettes in popcorn? Gross.

RECOMMENDATION: Try and watch before the Oscars
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Kingsman: The Secret Service