Craicing Review - Whiplash
The Galway Film Society will screen Whiplash at the Town Hall Theatre on Sunday, March 15th about a gifted young jazz musician pushed to breaking point. Katelin Bernard reviewed the film which scooped the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance film festival 2014.
Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) is a talented and dedicated first year student at the cutthroat, Schaffer conservatory of music in New York City. He has dreams of greatness and practices until his hands bleed at the prestigious conservatory.
There, he meets the brutal and tough teacher Fletcher, played by J.K Simmons, who is looking for a new drummer to join his band. This psychological drama focuses on the relationship between the two, one of respect, grit, domination and determination, as Andrew's passion to achieve perfection spirals into obsession.
Fletcher will stop at nothing to realize his student’s potential and the relationship between instructor and student is emotionally draining and riveting. Fletcher continues to push Andrew to the brink of both his ability - and his sanity - as he moves himself away from his family, friends and girlfriend. He will stop at nothing to show Fletcher that he is something.
The film is a sharp and electric story, intense, inspiring and well acted. Director Damien Chazzelle says the film shows the audience that fear is a motivator and we shouldn’t deny that.