CRUSHER. DESTROYER.

I really like a good sports movie. Who doesn’t? They’re usually a great underdog story, and everyone loves those. But I’ve pretty much seen a movie for every half interesting sport out there. THE MIGHTY DUCKS, REMEMBER THE TITANS, HAPPY GILMORE, the list goes on. So how about we take the same basic concept from a sports movie and set it in the world of up and coming jazz musicians. And instead of focusing on the fresh faced, bright eyed and bushy-tailed kid with the heart of gold like Daniel-san in THE KARATE KID we focused on the weird loner who tries too hard like that asshole Johnny in THE KARATE KID. Wouldn't that be pretty cool? Well, that exactly the picture that Damien Chazelle paint for us in WHIPLASH. And we get the angry mentor/coach to boot in J.K. Simmons who spits bile and hurls abusive slander like nobody’s business. The music in this film is extraordinary. I'm no jazz guy but seeing tracks like Caravan and the title track Whiplash in all their glory was fucking exhilarating. The end set piece - man that shit is sweaty palms central. I don't think I've been closer to the edge of my seat in a theatre this year. Seeing the story of two people, who despite the odds and their differences, go to extreme lengths to achieve one goal – make perfect music and go down in history doing it - was a real highlight for me this year. Because for some people being good enough just isn’t good enough.