Blu-ray Review - Whiplash (2014)

Genre: Drama, Music
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: 1st June 2015 (UK)
Rating: 15
Director: Damien Chazelle
Cast: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser, Melissa Benoist, Austin Stowell
Buy: [DVD]

Every year Sundance gets a buzz film and last year’s ended up being the unlikely Whiplash. Unlike many films which premiere in the middle of Park City it ended up becoming a big financial hit for Sony last year and ended up winning some much deserved Oscars for Best Supporting Actor and editing. This is after all a film that is literally about jazz drumming, not the most commercially minded subject for a film.

Remember the drill sergeant segment of Full Metal Jacket? J.K Simmons oozes menace as Terence Fletcher who is the jazz band instructor from hell, and is more of a drill sergeant than an understanding teacher. Some people have complained the portrayal isn’t realistic given the improvisational nature of jazz but the character is based on the director Damien Chazelle’s own teacher when he was a jazz drummer. He was asked, “Why did you quit music?” and he replied with “it’s in the film”.

Miles Teller plays the Roman à clef of Damian Chazelle called Andrew Neiman. He is a young ambitious drummer who wants to be as good as his musical hero Buddy Rich who was commonly known as “the world’s greatest drummer”. He shows signs of being on the autism spectrum due to socially ineptitude and obsessive drive and even dumps his girlfriend to concentrate on drumming and doesn’t realise it’s consequences.

Chazelle directs the film like the tensest thriller you’ve ever seen. This is down to the Oscar winning editing by Tom Cross that perfectly builds tension through the use of sound/music and effortless editing. It all starts off as an electrifying film but it does suffer from a muddle third act but it ends with an astounding climax that is as pulse pounding as anything in the new Mad Max.

Despite some narrative faults in the last act Whiplash remains one of the most impressive and original films to come out of the US in recent years. It features two outstanding performances, J.K. Simmons of course got the Awards but Miles Teller holds his own. Damien Chazelle and Teller are both set to go on to even more great things so look out for next films.

The blu-ray of Whiplash is reasonably stacked with features. First and foremost it includes the short film that was made to drum up interest in the feature but it lacks Miles Teller’s performance. Both films included commentary tracks, a 45-minute documentary on drummers in general, a deleted scene, short Q&A and the film’s trailer.

★★★★1/2
Ian Schultz