I watched Whiplash and honestly, this is one of those movies that can make you tense from beginning to end. The movie follows Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), a young drummer who dreams of becoming one of the best musicians in the world. He is studying at a music school and spends most of his time practising. He isn't interested in being just an average drummer. He wants to be great.
Then he meets Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), a very tough music teacher. And when I say tough, I really mean it. Fletcher doesn't encourage his students like a normal teacher would. He insults them, shouts at them and puts them under serious pressure. He believes that being too nice to someone will never bring out their best.
Andrew later became one of the students Fletcher focuses on. At first, Andrew seems ready for the challenge. He wants to prove that he deserves to be there. But the pressure slowly starts getting to him. He practises until his hands hurt and bleed. He becomes so focused on becoming a great drummer that other parts of his life begin to suffer. Even his relationship with Nicole (Melissa Benoist) didn't survive because Andrew felt that he has to put his dream first.
What makes the movie interesting is the relationship between Andrew and Fletcher. Fletcher can be cruel, and there are many times when I honestly wondered why Andrew kept putting himself through all of that. But Andrew also wants Fletcher's approval badly. He wants to show him that he is good enough. So the more Fletcher pushes, the harder Andrew tries.
The movie also makes you think about what people are willing to sacrifice to become. I also have to talk about J.K. Simmons because his performance was incredible. Fletcher was the type of teacher who can make an entire room uncomfortable just by walking into it. You never know what he is going to say or do next. He can go from calm to angry in seconds.
Miles Teller (Andrew) also did a wonderful job. You can actually see the change in him as the movie continues. He started as a young man who simply wanted to play drums, but his desire to be the best slowly took over his life. And the drumming scenes? They were intense.
You don't even have to understand jazz to feel the pressure. The sound of the drums, Andrew's tired face, the blood on his hands and Fletcher standing over him all make those scenes feel like a battle.
The final performance was easily one of my favourite parts. Andrew really gave everything he had. The ending also leaves you with a lot to think about. You can feel proud of Andrew for finally proving himself, but at the same time, you can't ignore what he had to go through to get there.
That is what I like about Whiplash. It doesn't simply tell you to chase your dreams. It shows you the ugly side of ambition too. Sometimes wanting to be the best can make you forget everything else.
My Rating: 90/100
Whiplash is a powerful movie with great acting, amazing drumming scenes and a story that keeps you interested. If you like movies about ambition, talent, pressure and people who refuse to give up, this one is definitely worth watching.
Rating: 90/100
