Movie Review - Whiplash

WHIPLASH

          Whiplash is one of those movies you do not really want to watch twice. That is not to say because it’s bad, because it is not by any means bad. The only word I can use to describe this movie with is intense. Whiplash is a movie about a jazz drummer named Andrew who, just like all musicians, wants to be the best in the business. In the beginning of the film, he is in a music conservatory practicing. While there, a man by the name of Terence Fletcher comes in and hears him play. Mr. Fletcher is the band teacher of the advanced class in the conservatory. After a hearing him a few more times, Mr. Fletcher decides to put Andrew in his band.

          At first, Mr. Fletcher seems like an ordinary conductor but after a while, he becomes one of the most despising characters I have ever seen in a movie. He screams at his students for a slight error and even threw cymbals at some of them. J.K. Simmons plays Mr. Fletcher in the movie and he is amazing. He has provided by far one of, if not the best performances of 2014. His ability to act kind or supportive and cruel or menacing at a turn of a dime is brilliant.

I would have said that this movie was good if they just made Mr. Fletcher the bad guy through and through, but they didn’t. Not only is Mr. Fletcher a man on the edge of insanity, but so is Andrew. The more and more you see of Andrew, the more obsessed with his drumming he becomes. Because of Mr. Fletcher’s continued abuse, Andrew makes sure he becomes even better. At one point in the movie, he breaks ties with very important people in his life because he wants to focus on drumming.

          The back and forth between these two characters is so captivating and at times, nail-bitingly creepy. Why do I say this? There are scenes in the movie where Mr. Fletcher purposely made decisions that would make Andrew’s job harder. I will not give away the ending because I recommend everyone watch this movie. It is very close to becoming a perfect movie. I honestly cannot find any faults with this movie. I will put a link to the movie trailer here. What else can I say? Watch it yourself and find out. I give a 10/10 score easily.