Whiplash

A drama packing plenty of suspense and stellar performances, Whiplash is visceral and extraordinary. Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) is a young student attending one of the best music conservatoriums in New York, and is completely dedicated to being ‘one of the greats’. When Andrew is selected to play with the school’s studio band he sees this as an opportunity of a lifetime, but it soon becomes a gruelling nightmare.

Teacher and instructor of the band Terence Fletcher (JK Simmons) is terrifying and torturous, hurling verbal and emotional abuse towards his students, and making the drummers play until their hands are dripping in blood. The tension very rarely lets up during rehearsals, and enough sweat, blood and tears are shed you could fill a bucket.

After the hell Fletcher puts Neyman through, it’s incredible that you can feel sympathy for the psychotic teacher when he explains there is a method in his cruel and unusual madness. The performances of both Teller and Simmons are highly engaging and the plot moves in unexpected ways, keeping you literally on the edge of your seat.

Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, Whiplash is an impressive film on so many levels. While Teller has been making a strong name for himself over the last few years with films like The Spectacular Now, this tremendous performance will certainly make him unforgettable.

In cinemas 23 Oct