Pitch perfect battle of wills

WHIPLASH is a thrilling and terrifying film about the battle of wills between a talented young jazz drummer at a prestigious New York music conservatory and the instructor from hell who is either out to break him or drive him to musical greatness - whichever comes first. The movie, written and directed by Damien Chazelle, is both dazzling and draining to watch, notable for strong performances by its leads as well as its blistering, drum-infused soundtrack.

First-year student Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) has ambitions of being the next Buddy Rich and is determined not to let anything - or anyone - get in his way. He's intense, practises for hours on end and has the quiet confidence of someone who knows he's pretty good with the drumsticks. In his spare time he goes to the movies with his dad (Paul Reiser) and chats up Nicole (Melissa Benoist), a cute girl at the concession stand.

Andrew is supremely gifted but what he really wants is to be selected for the school's show orchestra - the one that takes part in competitions around the country. He thinks he's on his way when he's singled out by the band's intimidating conductor Mr Fletcher (JK Simmons) - but that signals the beginning of his troubles. Fletcher dresses in black, rules by fear and has a habit of humiliating pupils, reducing them to tears with his brutally extreme and near-sadistic teaching methods.