Whiplash

[kevinknapman]

The best film I saw at the LFF this year was easily Whiplash. An intense and electrifying film with two stunning lead performances from Miles Teller and JK Simmons. Who knew the world of jazz drumming and the volatile relationship between a student and teacher could be so exciting and dangerous? Hank Levy's track Whiplash unsurprisingly makes an appearance though it's Duke Ellington's Caravan that you'll never listen to in the same way again that's for sure (a piece of music you'll probably have heard even if you don't know the name). The final scene is the kind that will leave you holding your breath until the credits roll. It's also a film not afraid to centre its story on unlikeable characters. Teller in particular gets more unlikeable as the film goes on as his desire to be a great jazz drummer sours his relationships with everyone around him.
Impressive, essential and supremely confident cinema.

I had a second chance to see the film last night at the Barbican as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. I thought that the intensity might have been diluted a second time and that the film may not stand up to repeated viewings. How wrong I was. It remains as potent and enthralling as the first time.

Out in the UK on the 16th January.

[The Sparrow]

I've seen the trailer for this a few times. It's hypnotic and scary.

[The Sparrow]

I saw this tonight and have one word for it - WOW!!

[idbridge]

I have only been to the cinema once before not knowing what film was showing (a VW promotion where people voted for the film they wanted out ten or so films - sex and the city was shown)

I hoped it was this film anyway and it was superb, from the first minute to the last, absolutely riveting.
No one left the cinema and there was absolute silence. If you described the film to someone, it would not sound the best but after seeing it, I would recommend it to anyone

[Beate]

Saw this at a members' preview at the Greenwich Picturehouse today.

Meh. I don't like jazz. I don't like drumming. And I dont like Miles Teller. I just thought it would be better than Tinkerbell. I don't know what good drumming should sound like. Was he rushing or dragging? It all sounded the same to me. The teacher was perfectly ghastly but Teller wasn't much nicer and could have got out any time he liked. The never ending drum solo at the end absolutely did my head in and I would have happily thrown a chair at his head there and then!

All this talk about greatness was just rubbish. If you can't be kind to people, you've failed already.

5/10

[stuartboy]

So. Was this movie a rusher? Or a dragger?
I thought it rocked!
Boy did I think that teacher got to resembling a tortoise more and more as the film progressed.
Slightly spoiled by the trailer I think. This was really intense throughout, but lacked some of the intended shock by so much of it having been in the trailer. I never normally bother with trailers except that over the last month I have had to endure them ad nauseam whilst using up vouchers at regular screenings.

Loved it.

8/10

[McG]

Saw this in Glasgow Braehead which was not even half full, probably due to 3 different options to preview this film this week. I'm certainly not usually impressed by drumming or even drummers for that matter. However, I do love music and was fascinated about the obsessive nature of the teacher and his hunt for the new star . . .the one in a lifetime. Sadly I have known some teachers who did border on this type of obsessive behaviour and never suffered fools. Obviously it was not at this extreme or they would have lost their job!
I enjoyed the film and never lost interest throughout.
I would not have been unhappy to have pa*d to see this film.
Marks 7.5/10

[chelle1973]

This was pretty good! End scene was amazing! The teacher was a right pig, though he played the part well. 8/10

[RevKeith39]

Had been so looking forward to this as I'm a huge fan of drummers, Buddy Rich in particular. So why was I slightly disappointed? I think that the film added very little to the trailer. All the key scenes were in that trailer and the actual story was fairly trite and, dare one say it, cliched. The acting was superlative but the tone of the film was incredibly male/macho. The sole female role was almost a throwaway. It held my attention throughout and I loved the soundtrack but...slight disappointment. 7.5/10

[alythonian]

Well, this traumatised, mesmerised and fascinated me all at the same time. An absolutely brilliant film about a music student and his need to 'make it'. The intensity of the actors both student snd pupil was 100% believable, and having read an article about the film , I gather all the blisters and most of the blood were also real.
The intensity with which both actors played their parts was phenomenal as was the quality of the drumming and the Jazz music in the film.
As an amateur musician who in the last dabbled with competitive bands, and was shouted and screamed at and publicly humiliated for the cause, I really felt for him and what he was going and put through. But it also reminded me of people who didn't give up and who kept going. I have a friend who's the drummer in a reasonably well known band and the characteristics of drummer as loner, centre man, pulse of the band were all there and all well portrayed. It is Aldo easy to see how you can believe that the next time has to be better than the last and the compulsive obsessive behaviour starts along with the need for absolute control. Nits not just musicians, you can see the traits in people with those personality traits. An absolutely fascinating study of human psyche.
I was mesmerised start to finish, and that 2nd trombone wad only flat the 2nd time, not the 1st in my humble opinion - for what it is worth!
Best film of 2015 so far for me.

Sorry for typos.
9/10