I had been chomping at the bit for months to see Whiplash. A colleague of mine returned from the Cannes Film Festival absolutely raving about this film. The praise has been pretty much universal, a tsunami of early positive reviews from the film's debut at Sundance in January. Naturally that fills me with skepticism. Does Whiplash live up to the hype? Is it the great film with phenomenal, award worthy performances as heralded? Yes, unequivocally.

Miles Teller stars as Andrew, a shy, but immensely dedicated drumming student at New York's premiere music school. While practicing by himself, he's observed and confronted by Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), the school's competition jazz ensemble teacher. Fletcher is a tyrannical perfectionist, brutal in upholding students to his impossible standards. Andrew is stunned, as well as his classmates, when Fletcher invites him to be the jazz drummer in the competition band. Trial by fire is an understatement. Fletcher's verbal and physical abuse instills fear, but flicks a switch in Andrew. He wants to be the best jazz drummer. Nothing is more important to him. As Fletcher rains down psychological torture, Andrew's quest for perfection pushes him to the extreme. Cutting out any relationship that may detract from his practicing and spiraling his life into dangerous obsession.

Whiplash refers to the famous jazz piece written by Hank Levy. Its odd timing and arrangement makes it difficult to play. Andrew's efforts to master Whiplash, and Fletcher's torturous instruction is riveting to behold. Andrew drums until bloody, sweating like a sinner in church. Meanwhile Fletcher hovers like a vulture, berating and hurling vitriol as the veins pump in his neck. These are magnetic performances by a veteran actor and promising newcomer. Teller and Simmons feed off each other's energy, propelling their scenes like a rocket. It is superb acting. These characters are so richly imagined. Fletcher demands greatness and is willing to push whatever button needed to elicit from Andrew. Who, in turn, idolizes Fletcher and understands that reaching the pinnacle will take every bit of his soul.

Writer and director Damien Chazelle has achieved greatness in his second feature. Whiplash is based on his short film of the same title. It was so well received, he was able to secure funding to make a full length film with J.K. Simmons, who plays Fletcher in both works. Chazelle's script and direction of his actors is magnificent. Whiplash is his baby, he knows it through and through. But the challenge every director and writer faces is imparting that vision on the other players involved to make it perfectly realized on screen. Chazelle accomplishes his artistic goals in Whiplash, making a film that may become a standard in its own right for years to come.

Whiplash is a must see and will contend for the best film of 2014. It'll be tough to find outside of major cities, but is well worth making the effort. Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, and Damien Chazelle are going to be household names come award season. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Whiplash renews popular interest in jazz music and percussion. I just hope new fans don't go to the extremes of Andrew or Fletcher.