I found ‘Whiplash’ (Damien Chazelle, 2014) to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. To me, J.K. Simmons displays one of the finest performances in cinema history. With the excellence extended through every scene I am interested in following Damien Chazelle in his future productions. Certainly, as with Tarantino, a high standard has been set by Chazelle’s debut film.
This isn’t a popcorn, one liner movie. It’s a deep, powerful, intense movie.
The intensity of this film never lets up to the very end and it always keeps you invested throughout the entire ride. Not just invested, but fully immersed. This is a heart pounding experience unlike any other thing I have ever witnessed. It does this better than most movies I've ever seen and it's exceptionally effective in this particular film due to the subject matter. The many twists and turns in the film are crafted to continually grab you and throw you into the film. Very unconventional in terms of its plot, but completely engrossing. Focused: that's what I'd call it. I didn't feel like there was a single wasted scene in the entire movie. And the way the editing cuts had fun with the music was just brilliant. From start to finish, it was intense and fast. You barely have any room to breathe, and I treasure every bit of it. I was always on edge, wondering if Fletcher is going to blow up again, or if Andrew will mess up/accomplish his goals. Like I mentioned earlier, my heart was legitimately pounding. Each hit of the drum and each exchange of verbal abuse felt like an attack on me. Enthralling, captivating, mesmerizing, inspirational, jaw-dropping—there’s only so many words to fully explain.
Another thing to praise was the acting, which was out of this world. Phenomenal work from J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller, especially from Simmons, who play the jazz instructor Fletcher. He carries this entire film. His character is so complex and amazing; you don't know if you should be afraid of him or respect him. Of course, Teller did an excellent job as well as Andrew Neeman. The role of an obsessive, driven artists was expertly crafted. I found myself often empathizing and relating with Teller. Andrew is definitely driven by the ideal of going down in history as a legend. The mentions of his dad as a fairly unremarkable author act as a notable contrast to Andrew's ambitions. The scene at the dinner-table also shows his discomfort with not being recognised for his ability. Additionally, the physical acting from both are top notch. They both sell their respective characters in incredibly profound methods. Their acting ability compliments the film’s incredibly fast pace.
I would also love to glorify the technical elements of the film. First of all, the cinematography is beautiful, yet subtle. The masterful lighting from shot to shot is nothing short but spectacular. Outstanding music, obviously, runs all around in the movie. Writing, story, and dialogue are brilliant and stupefying. I specifically admired how the film was fundamentally a psychological power struggle between the two main characters. Such a fascinating and astonishing thing to see. Furthermore, I adored all of J.K. Simmons’ insults. They are genius and borderline drill instructor level.
But the ending - brilliant in how unexpected it was, and masterfully it was shot - seemed to suggest that Fletcher and Andrew had succeeded. Fletcher is satisfied, and that Andrew has proved to himself and to Fletcher that he really is the next big thing in terms of jazz drumming. In this set piece finale, the protagonist and antagonist both ultimately achieve their goals at the exact same time. And all of this is told through a seven-minute-long music piece which conveys the morally grey message of the film. I think the whole point is there is a moral ambiguity to the whole thing. That's what makes the film so fascinating. Fletcher's philosophy led to Andrew achieving this great artistic moment and perhaps jumping off his musical career, but that doesn't retroactively justify his cruelty. It doesn't de facto make any of his actions "right". It just makes them efficient - at least on Andrew. But presumably any sane person can agree that there are multiple paths to greatness.
However, at the heart of it, this movie explores the question "do the ends justify the means?", and the filmmaker could not have effectively asked that question without showing us "the ends" to judge from. Just for pure narrative symmetry, the utility of Fletcher's techniques had to be proven out in the end, or else it's just a movie about a guy being a dick and getting fired for it. Instead, it becomes a movie about the roots of artistic greatness and what place morality has in the creation of art. Chazelle wants the audience to take from the rhetorical thread of this film, I think it's that Fletcher is very much in the wrong and yet his tactics are absolutely effective. Both are true. Because life and art are full of contradictions.
As I gather my thoughts together, it hits me how this film is a work of art and a masterpiece. From fantastic camera work to award winning acting, this movie has something everyone could fall in love with. Not to mention, a theme that fundamentally speaks to everyone.
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