Whiplash - 4K + Blu-ray + Digital

*contains a mini-spoiler* As a die-hard movie goer, this film was a rare treat that comes along once in a great while. I'm a hard core Sci-Fi fan, but I can appreciate a first rate movie from any genre. This one just happened to come from the only thing I love more than movies, music. This movie flew completely under my radar. Hadn't seen a preview, or read anything about it. I checked what was playing that day, crossed off the 5 playing I had already seen, crossed off the 7 playing I wanted no part of, I read the brief synopsis of Whiplash and saw J.K. Simmons was in it and that was enough for me. Basically as a movie goer these days, I just want to see something different and the bottom line for me is, I gotta get lost in it and be truly entertained. And Damnit, I was! At the scene of the car crash, I got up and walked the heck out. I knew there was no way I was gonna keep this much joy to myself! I walked out to my car, called my wife at work, I said "hey, this movie is INCREDIBLE". I said you have got to come see this thing! I can honestly say, thousands of movies, this has never happened to me personally. So later that night my wife and I saw this thing, went home, ordered the soundtrack, and pre-ordered the Blu-ray. Today we received the Bluray. I watched the movie twice today, one without, and once with commentary. Plus watched all the special features. It'll be a while before another movie impresses me the way this one has done. Was not that impressed with Miles in the few movies I had previously seen him in. Gotta say, he was right for this role and certainly earned my respect. J.K. Simmons, always great. Was very surprised to read some negative comments from some of the reviewers here at Amazon. Everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion, but I was so blown away I guess I just assumed most people would feel the same. I was entertained in every sense of the word by this film and I don't regret a penny I spent on it. I wish Miles could have been part of the commentary and I wish they would have included a piece on his training as part of the special features. Aside from those minor gripes the blu-ray release is all thumbs up from me. Great picture, superb DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, a 45 minute feature that was fairly interesting with interview segments from a bunch of professional drummers, the original film short, and a couple other little tidbits. Again, was really hoping for a glimpse into Miles' training for the film, but nothing's perfect. It's a must-own for fans of great drama and music.

Beautiful, intense, and captivating all the way through. Any musician will love this film

I first heard about Whiplash just a few months ago, and since I am a music guy and a movie fanatic, I can't help but wonder how this movie about music flew under my radar for half a decade. As other reviewers have stated, it's not easy to watch and certainly not for everyone. It's quite intense most of the way through, and is very disturbing in parts, but it is a well made, well paced movie with excellent performances from the two lead actors. Miles Teller plays a dedicated drummer in a college jazz band trying competitively to maintain his position in the band while his instructor, played by J. K. Simmons obsessively and sadistically pushes him to be "the next Charlie Parker". Simmons has all the charm of R. Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket as he verbally abuses his students, focusing his hostility on Teller more and more. Teller starts out as a shy, soft spoken fellow who slowly gains the confidence he needs to stand up to his bully of an instructor. The movie raises a number of questions such as, where do you draw the line when trying to achieve your fullest potential in a particular talent? Is it worth subjecting yourself to being bullied and insulted, while making major sacrifices in your personal and social life? It's a good movie to watch with people who might be open to discussing these things afterward. I can't think of any detail in Whiplash that could have been done better. It accomplishes what it set out to do, and (not giving away any spoilers) the final showdown does not disappoint. And jazz is not my main music genre, but I find the music throughout this movie to be quite enjoyable.

This movie forced me to revise my list of the top 10 movies released in 2014 -- No contest -- Whiplash takes the number one slot. JK Simmons absolutely deserved the best-supporting actor Oscar for this performance. The script does its part to elicit conflicting emotions from from the audience, but most of the credit goes to JK Simmons' embodiment of Terence Fletcher as a seemingly sadistic, frequently profane instructor who believes the ONLY way to nurture greatness is by upbraiding and browbeating the most talented young musicians he can find. More than three quarters of Simmons' on-screen time is spent convincing the audience that he's a borderline sociopath, and yet, there are several brief moments where he succeeds in prompting us to question our own judgment. But Simmons isn't the only supporting actor in this movie. The music deserves equal billing. Each and every piece evokes moods and emotions that enrich the experience as much as any actor could ever hope to do. I thoroughly enjoyed movies like "The Commitments" (1991), "Once" (2007) and "Inside Llewyn Davis" (2013), all of which combined story and music. But, if we were to say those movies "wove" music with the script and the performances, then "Whiplash" must be described as "homogenizing" music, script and performances into one intoxicating substance. The music is essential to each of the movies mentioned, but in "Whiplash" the story is indelibly stained with song -- Impossible to remove without destroying the whole thing -- The only movie that comes close to making music this essential is Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia" (1999), and, I hate to say it, but I think the Whiplash soundtrack-movie combo is superior to that movie too. Also praiseworthy is Miles Teller's leading performance as the pliable student musician, Andrew. The only reason Teller didn't receive best-actor nominations for this movie is because subdued roles such as this never result in nominations. Teller portrays his character as a fragile vessel filled with explosive materials. The audience scoots to the edge of their seats each time he's thrown to the ground, kicked down the stairs, or run over by a truck -- Each time we think the same thing -- "This is it" -- "He's gonna blow" -- "How bad's it gonna be?" -- Again, the script gets the credit for convincing viewers that they know this kid well enough to predict his reactions, but it's Teller who sells us on alternatives. We expect the character to zig, but then he gives us cause to reconsider the possibility that he might zag instead. What a great movie. See it.

Gran película de jazz / blues

Decepcionado con la compra trás intentar ver la película que he comprado, primera vez que recibo mensaje "Reproducción prohibida por código de región" con las respectiva negativa para su visualización, en todo este año de uso del reproductor Sony Blu-Ray que utilizo habitualmente.

Loved it So much bought two 💙

魅力的なジャズの作品、スポ根とは違う情熱や運命を感じられた。

ラストは本当に見ごたえがあって、見てるこっちもアドレナリン全開になりました。