Review of Whiplash (2014) by Yoonki C — 20 Apr 2017

A new work of a young director, Damien Chazelle's Whiplash is a total blast of sweat from start to finish. It gives you a false sense of security as the film begins with a young finely talented student Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) plays the drums as he dreams to be the finest drum artist appreciated by others, of his new generations. Then, he comes across with a rather different type of a music instructor who will cause anything to realize a student's potential of music. As these two characters, conflict on each other, most of the film progresses, these events with very intense sequences that made my hands gripping with sweat.

Whiplash can be diversified into a category of a dramatic film relating to the main topic of jazz music and a thriller film that never lets the audience take a deep breath of comfort throughout. The film illustrates perfectly of what every student might have feared the worst teacher who considers as enemies towards his/her's student, who will literally commit anything to find his or her's potential. An instructor, Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simons) is the exact type of professor that always challenges the student and drop them to hole of death which they can never climb to breath fresh air. While, the instructor being very relentless and brutally eager, he has a side of appreciation as he peels off layers of the student's potential. J.K. Simons portrayal and performance of this fearful relentless instructor is one to appreciate and gives a courageous and terrifying performance in which we as an audience, starts to be violated like as Andrew Neyman. On the other hand, a hard working, inspiring student acted by Miles Teller, who has a true dream by heart is the one who meets Terence Fletcher as an instructor, and gets horribly treated, called with varieties of swear words and psychologically tormented, is so heartbreaking and unbelievably touched. He gives a woody and thoughtful performance as he the protagonist gets forced to fall down to hell and rise up facing a somewhat battle against Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simons). It is so riveting of a process of how these personally opposite people clash with each other.

This film is intense, inspiring and hand gripping from start to finish making it a brilliant praiseworthy filmmaker Damien Chazelle, one to look forward to and be inspired. Also, a riveting vehicle for stars J.K. Simons and Miles Teller, one's worthed to be complemented. This film has no sharp or outstanding flaws, making this one of the finest pieces of work of that time of period. This is definitely one of the best films of 2014. I knew nothing but a confessed drum artist, but glad that this film exists to illustrate these stories in an unconventional method. In other words, it's an 100 minute thrill ride that keeps thrilling the audience.