Well, hello there, kind folks. If you’re visiting this blog of mine, I presume that you have a certain interest in the cinema. As for me, even since my early childhood, I have had a deep love of everything related to movies and television. As far as I can remember, I have been more at ease in front of a screen than in the yard, outside, playing. It is a great way to travel, though other people’s stories, without having to foot any kind of steep bill. Over the years, I feel that movie-watching has even fuelled my own creativity.

All that being said, I welcome you in my Cinephile’s Nest. I hope you enjoy it here, feel free to come back at any time. Here you will find reviews of current movies and older ones. TV shows also. Some classics that have remained some of my favourites, some that have disappointed me. I will use a very basic star (*) system to grade them from 1 to 5 (5 being sliced bread level). Remember, these are just my tastes. I will try to explain in each review what I liked about these particular movies, without giving spoilers.

Il y aura aussi des critiques en français pour les films francophones, car j'aime également le cinéma dans ma langue maternelle. Avant d'apprendre l'anglais, plus jeune, je louais des tonnes de films traduits en français, surtout ceux de Bud Spencer et Terrence Hill. Ma mère a eu le choc de sa vie lorsqu'un jour, dans la boîte d'un de ces films, Deep Throat avait malencontreusement inséré. Une expérience formatrice pour le jeune cinéphile que je suis.

Bienvenue à tous, amusez-vous bien.

I welcome you all here, enjoy yourself.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Whiplash (2014)

Genre: Drama
Directed by: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser
Running time: 106 minutes



Andrew Neiman is a first-year jazz student at the Shaffer Conservatory, in New York, who aspires to follow in the footsteps of the great drummers, like Buddy Rich. One night, famed conductor Terrence Fletcher hears Andrew practicing and he soon invites him to join the studio band as a substitute drummer. Fletcher’s methods are unorthodox, with use of fear, bullying and tyranny, and a love-hate relationship quickly develops between master and pupil.

J.K. Simmons is absolutely brilliant as the tyrant conductor. He brings such believability to Terrence Fletcher, he makes the character truly frightening. The conductor believes that his actions are the best way to get the best out of his musicians, which makes it all so much more intense. The guy is not acting out this way to be evil, he truly believes in his method.

Miles Teller is also very solid as Andrew Neiman, a young man determined to be one of the greats and willing to put it all on the line to please his teacher, until the breaking point comes.

The story of Whiplash is riveting. Its intensity resides not in the action but in the characters and in the interactions between them. Great story delivered by great actors and put together on-screen by a very talented young director, Damien Chazelle.  

Rating: «««««
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