Whiplash

[The Josh]

Posted: 10/29/14 at 7:31pm

I couldn't find a thread about this film, has anyone here seen it? I did last night, and it's far and away my favorite film of the year. Miles Teller, and especially J.K. Simmons absolutely knock it out of the park. What are your thoughts?

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 10/30/14 at 4:27pm

I've heard Oscar buzz for Simmons! I watched the trailer and thought it looked... compelling, but also with the possibility of being a little hokey. I guess you didn't find it hokey? All of these teacher/student against-all-odds dramas seem to find hokiness somewhere along the way.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 10/30/14 at 5:02pm

I would say it avoids the hokeyness that befalls so many movies in that genre.

[dave1606]

Posted: 10/30/14 at 10:44pm

I was actually going to post about this. I caught this last night and it will wind up probably being one of my favorite films of the year. As the son of two band directors (and someone who was in band up until college), it is probably the best film about being part of a band ever made.

JK Simmons is absolutely incredible and I hope is remembered come Oscar time. I found him unbearable in The Spectacular Now, but Miles Teller is fantastic here. He gives a very physical and committed performance.

I kept thinking of Black Swan the entire time. The themes of obsession and wanting to be perfect at your craft definitely carry over. Although there are a few parts of the third act I didn't like (And found very unbelievable), the screenplay is very strong, as is the direction. The way the musical performances are filmed in particular is brilliant. Definitely worth seeking out.

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 4:22pm

Saw this last night. The movie and the performances absolutely live up the the hype, especially Simmons.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 4:43pm

Have only seen the trailer but it looks interesting.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 8:22pm

Saw this today. I loved it. Simmons should definitely be on the shortlist for Supporting Actor.

[dented146]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 8:26pm

Terrific film in my mind. It's nice to see something done well that is a bit out of the ordinary.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 12:53am

Bumping because I saw this tonight. I thought the performances were good, but I'm really not sure how I felt about the movie. The parallel to Black Swan (another movie I didn't really care for) is a good one, because it felt increasingly unbelievable and off as it went on. I guess maybe it's a a parable or something, but I was mostly vexed by it.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 1:02am

Whiplash was my favorite film of the year. Although the story was farfetched, the performances more than made up for that. I'm only disappointed that Miles Teller didn't get nominated.

Black Swan - I loved it to the moon.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 1:07am

I thought the performances were outstanding, but the film itself seemed to be saying, "the ends justify the means!"

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 1:08am

Oh, I know I'm in the minority for both. Im glad I saw it. So much blood, tho.

[Fantod]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 1:19am

My opinion on the movie is pretty much exactly the same as yours, Phyllis. Though I liked Black Swan a bit more than Whiplash.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 7:12am

Whiplash was my favorite film to watch this Oscar Season. Really happy this little film has gained such so much love in the film industry. It's a pretty ambitious film and it probably has one of the most thrilling endings I have ever seen. I've never been much of a fan of Miles Teller, but he completely stood his ground up against soon to be Oscar winner JK Simmons.

Updated On: 2/1/15 at 07:12 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 9:09am

I agree about Miles Teller. After seeing Whiplash, I saw some of his previous work and wasn't impressed. However, I think his performance in Whiplash is nomination-worthy.

Yes, and I hope JK Simmons takes the triple crown!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 5:19pm

Pleasantly surprised by it

If there is such a thing as a lock, Simmons is one for the Oscar.

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 5:32pm

"Pleasantly surprised by it "

Everyone and their mother has raved about it. So why were you still just "pleasantly surprised" ?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 6:32pm

He was happy to hear the word faggot a lot.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 2/2/15 at 7:03am

Loved this film. And very accurate too - coming from someone who has gone through the same thing!

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/2/15 at 9:23am

^ Was your instructor really as vile and heinous as JK Simmons' character?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/2/15 at 10:01am

Did you ever crawl out of a car you flipped after being hit be a semi and run to a recital?

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/2/15 at 11:33am

HAHA, Phyllis, that might be the most unbelievable part of the film!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/2/15 at 11:35am

It was around that point that I thought it all went off the rails and just kept getting more and absurd.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/2/15 at 11:43am

yeah, they went a little too far in making their point. I still loved the film though.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/2/15 at 12:38pm

Just watched this last night and loved it, though it did cause flashbacks to a specific college music instructor who was EXACTLY like the Simmons character (if not a little worse). Yeah, the car crash scenario was a bit extreme, but otherwise, the film depicted a situation that was quite realistic compared to my experience. I dropped out of the music program because of him (and other similar instructors in the program) realizing it was not at all what I wanted or expected. Some students simply expect it or even thrive from that sort of environment. I was not one of them.