Chasing Oscar Nominees With A Digital Notepad Hoping For An Interview: 'Whiplash' (R - Sony Pictures - 1 hr, 47 mins)

Alo Party Peoples.

Directed and Written
by Damien Chazelle

Of 2014's Best Picture nominees, Damien Chazelle's Whiplash is the odd man out. We had four biopics, Richard Linklater's vacation footage, Wes Anderson's magnum opus, a bizarre editing trick, and... an actor's showcase about a jazz instructor and his hot-headed drummer student. This is that one entry where everybody is surprised by, but not very concerned about, it getting a nomination. I'd say that it's about on par with the year's surprise snub Foxcatcher in that it isn't great, but it's still really good and backed by great performances.

Miles Teller plays Andrew, an aspiring young drummer at one of the most prestigious music schools in the country that catches the eye of J.K. Simmons as Mr. Fletcher, one hell of a teacher, by which I mean that his class is hell. He pushes his students to the limit via constant screaming, emotional abuse, occasional physical abuse, and generally acts like a royal prick to his students in order to get the best possible results, and at first you think you know where this story is going. He's harsh, sure, but he's got a heart of gold and it's all for a good reason, but then Whiplash turns its hand and it turns out that he's just an asshole, even if he gets the job done. Either way Andrew is determined to impress him, but by the end he, and the audience, are left questioning whether it was worth it.

Who knew Miles Teller could act? He's amazing in this, it's like somebody found a lookalike with actual talent. He's able to play the gambit from desperate sadness to the determination it takes to drum non-stop for hours until his hands are bleeding, to sheer anger at how much of an ass Fletcher is. Speaking of which, J.K. Simmons is absolutely incredible as Fletcher, he absolutely deserves the Supporting Actor nomination. He's in that space where you know you're watching a despicable human being, the kind of man that routinely screams homophobic slurs at his students, repeatedly slaps his drummer across the face to teach him how to stay on tempo, and we even learn that he drove one of his students to suicide, but hot damn does Simmons sell it, and it is an absolute blast to watch him do so. Even if you will hate your self for enjoying it.

Besides Best Picture, and Supporting Actor for Simmons, Whiplash also up for Best Adapted Screenplay. It has probably earned that, and is definitely more deserving of a writing nomination than say, American Sniper, or Boyhood, or Foxcatcher if we're being honest. (both of the latter are up for Original Screenplay) Then again, the story of a desperate student pouring his blood, sweat, and tears into a class that he's probably not cut out for, while constantly fearing it may all be for nothing can't help but speak to me, maybe I'll watch this years later and think it's the most pretentious thing ever. As far as the technical awards it's up for, Editing and Sound Mixing, it's more deserving of the former than almost everything else (it makes me weep for the state of the Academy that Boyhood is up for editing), and it absolutely deserves the latter. (Seriously, how in the hell is Interstellar up for sound mixing?)

I don't know that Whiplash is Best Picture caliber, but it is pretty damn excellent. As far as this year's nominees go, I'd place it between The Grand Budapest Hotel ahead, and American Sniper behind. You will probably have to wait until after the actual awards to see it, but if you have a chance to do so it's more than worth the time.

Have a nice day.

Greg.B