Review of Whiplash (2014) by Christopher E — 13 Feb 2016

"Whiplash" is not only one of the most intense, disturbing, and thought-provoking movie of the year, but is quite possibly one of the best movies in cinematic history.

"Whiplash" follows the story of a young boy named Andrew, who is a young drummer at one of the top schools in the country. He strives to be the best at his craft, and soon finds himself under the influence of a man named Terrence Fletcher. Fletcher is a music teacher who teaches in an unorthodox manner in order to push his students beyond their limits. At what cost is being the greatest worth it though, and is the path to hell worth the pursuit of a dream?

To start out, the acting here is phenomenal. Miles Teller puts on an Oscar worthy performance, and has climbed out of his drunkard Hollywood niche to star in an amazing film. He brings so much to the table, and does a great job of bringing his character from one place to another. He brings a lot of emotion to the role, and I'm definitely a Miles Teller fan boy now. On the contrary, J.K. Simmons is the real star here, as he gave one of the best supporting role performances of all time. He was a revelation, as he stole the show in many ways. He truly is a hardcore asshole that will do anything to find his next "Charlie Parker", and at no cost will he give up his methods. Both actors were amazing here, and they definitely made the movie for me.

The movie is also very intense and disturbing. I have never sweated so much when watching a film, and this movie kept me on the edge of my seat throughout its run time. By the time the credits rolled, my face was drenched in sweat, and my hands were numb. No movie has given me as much anxiety as this movie has, and it truly was an experience. J.K. Simmons is the most hardcore guy I've seen in a movie, and not only does he deliver emotional abuse onto other characters, but it really has an impact on everyone around him, including us. He was the main reason for the anxiety I had throughout the movie, and I'm sure there is a compilation out there of all of the derogatory lines he said throughout the film.

Speaking of which, take this from someone who has anxiety (me), and let this be a warning. If you suffer from anxiety, this film will be an experience for you. it is nail biting in every way, and makes you want to pass out at times.

Considering Simmons threw out many witty and abusive lines, you can't help but laugh sometimes because of how disturbing the scene is or just how uncomfortable you are. It makes you feel like an asshole sometimes, but in reality, that's just life. There are plenty of dark, comedic moments that aren't necessarily meant to be funny, but rather the point of this film. It really makes your heart beat quickly, and the movie managed to do an amazing job overall.

I also give a lot of credit to the director and the writers, as they really created a genius film. I loved the director's style, and his use of low budget camera work really impressed me. He set the tone well for the movie, and really did a great job of bringing us from Point A, to Point B. The screenwriters wrote a brilliant screenplay, one that kept me on edge and one that relayed a deeper meaning. This was an intelligent script, and one that was thought-provoking. I loved the direction and tone of this movie, and it makes me admire the talent behind the scenes.

On the surface, the movie is about a drummer boy and his pursuit to greatness, but his path getting there is absolute hell. When you dig deeper into the meaning, it makes the film even more disturbing and insane. The movie relays a message that makes you think, "Is pursuing my dream worth it if it means traveling along the path to hell?". This film makes you question many things, and shows that the path to greatness is not necessarily worth it. Andrew practically kills himself just to be remembered as one of the greats, and it really makes your jaw drop. There's also the question of what's the point of being the best, if you're not happy with what you do? In the beginning, Andrew is so passionate about his drumming and has a love for the art of it, but by the end, he absolutely hates drumming, and it pretty much ruined his life. It really makes you think about many things, and I haven't stopped thinking about this movie since Day 1.

At one point in the movie, one character questions whats the point of living if you can't be remembered. It really hits the topic that many people think about, and that's just being remembered for something. Now, although it's nice to be remembered, is it worth losing your life over?

There were plenty of memorable scenes here, with my favorite being the finale. That was the most intense and epic finale I've seen in my life, and is certainly one that had my heart racing. There was so much flare and meaning behind it, and nothing has made me more stunned than this ending.

This movie just feels so real, and everyone will be able to relate to this movie in some way shape or form. This movie is dark in many ways, and will definitely hit home for a lot of people.

In the end, this movie is my favorite movie of all time. There's no denying that this is an amazing movie, and every time someone asks me what my favorite film is, without hesitation, I say "Whiplash". I will remember this film forever, and it is truly a perfect film. It deserves, a perfect score.