A film to give you whiplash

By Nicholas Barber

Terence Fletcher is a movie monster for the ages. Like all the greatest big-screen fiends, he is so loathsome that you’re desperate for the hero to defeat him, yet so charismatic that you don’t want that defeat to come too soon. He’s got the cruel sense of humour that every classic villain needs, as well as the iconic uniform (shaven head, black T-shirt, black jacket). And, crucially, he believes in the virtue of his evil deeds, so he is sympathetic, and even a teensy bit admirable. Not bad going for a music teacher.

In “Whiplash”, the exhilarating debut from the writer-director Damien Chazelle, Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) presides over the best jazz band in a leading New York conservatoire. His latest student is a 19-year-old drummer (Miles Teller) who is eager to become the next Buddy Rich. The question is, is it worth it, if it means being bullied by a tyrannical perfectionist who can crescendo from sotto-voce flattery to fortissimo fury in a few breathtaking seconds? For adrenaline-pumping thrills, “Whiplash” matches any monster movie. But it also has a big-band soundtrack that deserves a Grammy, and a leading man who deserves an Oscar. We always knew that the Devil had all the best tunes; this particular Devil conducts them, too. ~ Nicholas Barber