I first watched this movie before last track season and it really motivated me and I always think of the film around this time of the year now. The main character is someone I can really relate to and feel for. Whiplash is by far my favorite film for so many reasons. Any hype around the movie you’ve heard is true; it really is that good. It was the second film for young up and coming French director Damien Chazelle, based off of his short film Whiplash in 2012. Chazelle has written and directed five feature length films thus far in his career including La La Land, First Man, and Babylon (2022) but in my opinion Whiplash is his undisputed masterpiece.
Filmed in 2013 and released in 2014, starring Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons, the film went on to receive 14 Academy Award nominations, winning in six categories. J.K. Simmons won best supporting actor for his role as Terrance Fletcher. Miles Teller also gives a stellar performance as Andrew Neiman.
The film follows Andrew Neiman, a young and ambitious jazz drummer attending Shaffer Conservatory who aspires to become one of the greatest musicians ever. Shaffer Conservatory Studio Band is led by highly respected but also abusive and demanding musician Terrance Fletcher. Neiman tries to prove himself worthy to Fletcher to be in the band as well as be a core member at competition. Neiman pushes himself to extreme lengths through unconventional drumming methods as he loses himself in obsession with becoming great.
I can relate to Andrew a lot, which is why this is my favorite film. He has an obsessive passion for his craft which I find similar to my passion with track and other sports. Andrew reaches a point in the film where his life revolves around drumming and being great which I find myself also striving for.
He changes as the movie progresses. His change starts because of his need for approval from Fletcher. Fletcher's opinion means a lot to him, and to Andrew disappointing him means he’s just like everyone else, average, and forgotten about. Fletcher's mind games make him obsessed with perfection. This causes him to not be able to maintain a relationship. Another factor that makes him want to be great is how family looks down on him for choosing a music career path, yet they all lead boring simple lives. Andrew begins to relate to nobody around him, he becomes anti-social, aggressive, and his practices become so intense his hands bleed.
In the midst of all his stress he gets injured and through a long series of events quits drumming. Months later he runs into Fletcher at a restaurant after not having seen him since a serious disagreement between the two. Fletcher talks to Andrew in a lighter tone, not trying to trick him, but really connecting with him. He talks about how unless people are pushed hard enough they could never achieve true greatness. Andrew is asked to play one last time for Fletcher.
Whiplash leaves viewers questioning if all the grit and work is worth it or not, and how far is pushing yourself too far. Whiplash also has my favorite ending sequence. Its themes of coach/teacher-student relationship, psychological approach to skill improvement, effects of verbal and physical abuse on mental health, and motivation are all shown dramatically.. Whiplash can be compared to sports movies as musicians aren’t usually depicted in the aggressive ways that sports players are. I think Andrew Neiman is a perfect embodiment of true determination and the obsessed artist at his craft. Andrew has a very complex dynamic between himself and Fletcher, which give the movie's themes layers that make viewers attached to the screen.
The camera work is incredible. Chazelle has numerous tracking shots and long takes throughout the film. The fast paced editing and camera moves won the Academy Award for best editing for Whiplash, and it's noticeable while watching how seemless the movie transitions and cuts back and forth only split seconds apart. The movie's different undertones and color schemes add intensity to scenes that make the scenes more impactful. The main two undertones are when the colors of the scene are gold, yellow, and green together (showing excitement) or, black, and blue together (showing a rougher side of the story like the city or a practice room).
The movie is rated R for strong language. There are intense scenes and with blood shown but only one instance of violence in the film. I highly suggest this film to anyone. It's truly motivating and thought provoking. Whiplash can be found available on Prime Video.
5✰ / 5
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