Whiplash (2014)

Score: A+ (10/10)

Upon first viewing the movie, many see the surface-level details of its overarching narrative. However, once the audience sits on what they experienced, they understand its purpose, making it go above and beyond what the film is at face value.

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Whiplash had an interesting journey to its theatrical release. It started as a short film shown at the Sundance Film Festival to gain traction and support to produce a feature-length version. Luckily for Damien Chazelle, the writer and director of the film, it worked. He also released short and feature-length versions of Whiplash before his following movie, La La Land, gained traction with production companies. Interestingly but unsurprisingly, Chazelle kept one element the same between the short film and the feature film: JK Simmons as Terence Fletcher, the film’s lead band instructor. The result is a gritty look into the life of a musician and his selfishly destined musical career

Fortunately for the film, JK Simmons owns his role in every scene he’s in. His history of playing aggravating and physically strong characters culminates with the best of both worlds in Whiplash. He throws objects at other characters mere minutes before yelling at the top of his lungs at them. It often leads to many of the film’s most famous sequences on the internet. However, there is a calmer side to Simmons’ character not seen much in his filmography or the movie. It creates a polarizing dynamic between his character’s mannerisms in and out of his role as a band instructor. The few sequences of a more reassuring Simmons masterfully detail his character’s inner motivations related to his role as a band instructor. However, Simmons’ character comes with the issue of his influence on his students.

Throughout Whiplash, Andrew Nieman desperately seeks a legendary drumming career. He’s picked by Simmons’ Terence Fletcher as a core drummer, resulting in his first-hand experience of Fletcher’s abusive nature. However, it motivates Nieman to vigilantly practice the drums, with Fletcher’s approval of its results amplifying his arrogance towards his musical talents. It causes him to close off many parts of his life before Fletcher’s influence takes its toll on him. Nieman steps back from drumming and tries to move on from the ordeal. However, once a jazz music festival arrives, with Fletcher acting as the leading band instructor, he pulls out the drums and becomes the musician he and Fletcher wanted to see from the beginning.

Nieman’s journey is similar to one of Fletcher’s former students, who dies midway through the movie. However, the former student acts as a key detail about talented musicians: there is a difference between ironic and purposeful motivation. Whiplash’s example is with Charlie Parker, who, according to Fletcher, had a cymbal thrown at his head after a poor performance. However, not only is Fletcher’s metaphor an interpretation of the truth, but it's also the driving force behind the instructor’s abusive tactics. His tactics force his students to practice until they are perfect, resulting in his former student’s death. In a way, Nieman learns from it and takes a step back from music-making before jumping back in for the film’s climax. Fletcher’s tactics suck his students’ love for music–something every talented musician must have.

Whiplash offers an innovative experience for music-makers, especially by showing how far people are willing to go to be something great. Musicians must understand when it’s time to step back from their possibly intensive practices before they lose sight of their full potential. Audiences must learn from the film’s message to never make the same mistake in any walk of life. Upon first viewing the movie, many see the surface-level details of its overarching narrative. However, once the audience sits on what they experienced, they understand its purpose, making it go above and beyond what the film is at face value.