Whiplash (2014 Damien Chazelle & scr)

Damien's debut was Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench (not well rated; sounds though like a trial run for his musical), then the Whiplash short, wrote The Last Exorcism Part II and Grand Piano (Elijah Wood is pianist who will be shot if he plays a wrong note), wrote and directed this, co-wrote 10 Cloverfield Lane and then La-La Land. It turns out he was a jazz drummer who experienced a teacher situation just like this - when asked why he went from jazz drummer to film maker he replied 'Everything in this film'. But the screenplay is clever enough to see both sides of the situation.

Miles Teller had some drumming experience but then had to quickly learn the jazz moves. He and J.K. Simmons ('I had to gesture with my arms a lot') are both amazing (J.K. is as terrifying as the child catcher) and the film is knife-edge tense throughout, considerably aided by Tom Cross's amazing editing, which understands the music it's cutting to. Sharone Meir shoots in that same dark rich palette as Luca Bigazzi, in Panavision, and Justin Hurwitz provides original big band numbers.

With sharp insight, Q suggests of Damian Chazelle 'Whiplash was his pain, La La Land his joy'.

J.K.'s air grab has become something of a visual joke in this house.

You have to be as fast as J.K. just to catch the screen grab!