Monday, March 23, 2015

Whiplash - Sunday 29th March 5pm

Our last film of the year, on Sunday 29th March at 5.00 in the Alhambra Cinema, could not be a better choice to go out in style; Whiplash looked destined to be a cult music film when we chose it for the programme, but has now become a world-wide phenomenon, with 73 awards including 3 Oscars. The big awards go especially to J.K Simmons, who finally gets recognised as a great actor.

The story of a young drummer (Miles Teller) who wants to be ‘THE best in the world’ who is taken in hand by a teacher (J.K Simmons) whose methods are more like a drill sergeant; mediocrity is not an option. If you have time, browse the critical reviews on Rotten Tomatoes; not only scoring 95%, they are mainly total eulogies! Even Mark Kermode, who rarely seems to rave about any film, cannot resist it – ‘For all its overripe contrivance, you'll leave the cinema with a spring in your step and a thump in your chest, eager to bang the drum for what deserves to be one of the year's real word-of-mouth hits’. Well, he was right about the hit; let’s hope Keswick loves it too; your last chance to see a club movie till September; don’t miss it!