The great JK Simmons won Best Supporting Actor for Whiplash at the Golden Globes last weekend. Classic Hollywood, as if ever there was a leading role in a film, this is it.
Simmons bestrides this paper-thin plot like a colossus, throwing everything into his role as a guru at a New York music school. His students are terrified of him, including nice young Miles Teller, the boy who wants to be one of the great jazz drummers.
Simmons gives him a chance, and initially is encouraging, but slowly his high standards start to demand retake after retake, and Teller starts to wilt. He questions his own talent and motivation and starts to crack up, while Simmons drives him ever harder and faster.
It’s a tremendous performance from Simmons, who made the Spider-Man movies tolerable and excelled in Juno, Up in the Air and so many others movies. And here he really lets rip as the sadistic tutor. It’s part drill sergeant, part Shine, and he clearly relishes every moment. Dressed permanently in black t-shirt and trousers, it’s a toss-up as to what bulges more, his biceps, veins or eyes, but they all do their fair share. His initial comment, that Teller is dragging, becomes almost a chant, so many times does he say it, his voice getting ever louder. The two worst words in the language to him are “nice job”.
In terms of plot there’s not that much more to it. Teller has a girlfriend that he can’t keep due to his obsessive practising, and has a slightly difficult relationship with his dad, but that’s about it. Teller drives himself on to try and win a competition, with Simmons yelling ever worse insults into his ear – at times they are very un PC, but quite funny.
Clearly the piece is pretty much a vehicle for Simmons to show just how good an actor he is. He must be, as I put aside my loathing of jazz just for these two hours in his company.
Overall verdict: A tour de force performance from Simmons saves what is basically a remake of Fame, in a burning, visceral two hours.
Reviewer: Mike Martin