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Whiplash Movie Review

Whiplash is a 2014 drama film directed by Damien Chazelle and starring Miles Teller and J. K. Simmons. It’s one of the best films of 2014 and one of the greatest dramas of the decade.

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“There are no two words in the English language

more harmful than “good job“

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A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential. This movie was the debut feature of Damien Chazelle and the fact that he made such a slick, powerful movie at such a young age is mind-blowing. He surely is one of the most talented directors working in Hollywood right now. He directed two outstanding performances and he made a deep film about a very thought-provoking subject.

Who would have ever thought that a film about jazz music no less would prove to be so darn engaging? Chazelle made such a powerful film that has stood the test of time gloriously as I rewatched it now after almost a decade and it is still marvelous. The film has its problems in the supporting arcs of other characters. I did like the father quite a bit and I found their relationship absolutely lovely as rarely does Hollywood portray paternal relations as this close. But still he needed more screen time, and the girlfriend subplot was particularly rushed.

But the main storyline is absolutely astonishing, especially as it regards its themes. Whiplash explores the question of whether or not the ends justify the means when it comes to teachers pushing students to achieve greatness. There is this one incredible sequence near the end of the movie where the two finally sit down and have a conversation. Up until that point, how Terence treated every student was appalling and inexcusable, but this is where you start to at least question whether it was justified given his excellent explanation.

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The music world is here portrayed in the most gruesome, intense manner possible. Bloody hands, sweating and torturous insults by the teacher all make for one very inhospitable world. However, the idea that greatness today is lost because everybody is too nice to each other and nobody pushes anybody to achieve bigger and better things was very truthful and thought-provoking. The film never excuses Terence’s behavior, but it provides us his insight, which was quite compelling.

J. K. Simmons rightfully won an Oscar for this terrific, all-consuming performance. This is one of the most deserved Oscar winners of the decade. He is magnetic, passionate and oh so terrible, but also genuinely sweet and caring at times. The mix of the two sides of his personality was beautifully showcased. He wouldn’t be nearly as amazing had it not been for the direction of Chazelle and the superb work of Miles Teller himself. It’s such a shame that this guy hasn’t made a bigger career afterward, but here he was fantastic in such an emotionally exhilarating, very difficult role.

The two played off of each other incredibly well in a tour de force turn for both of them. Whiplash is also superbly edited and paced, though some playing sequences did go on for too long. But that last sequence was beyond intense in execution as every single beat and struggle we as the audience felt. It’s an amazing ending to one deep, moving and very complex drama.

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