Review of Whiplash (2014) by Tony K — 12 Feb 2016

This movie with J.K Simmons and Miles Teller does show the pursuit of perfection while at the cost of sanity. But think of what could happen if Andrew couldn't take Fletcher's ruthless ways of teaching any more.

My father once had this kind of temper with me when I was struggling with my math homework. He wanted perfection also. But I told him, "Dad, NO ONE is perfect in this world." Yet he said that we can try to be perfect.

I bore with his temper for a few more years, without spilling out the beans yet. Before I did spill the beans, I actually wanted to commit suicide because of what I fear he'll do next with his unbearable temper.

Later my counselor found out that I tried suicide, and the next day, she immediately called an important meeting with my parents. After the meeting, my father finally understands that he can push me to the level in which perfection equals obsession.

He apologizes to me for all he has done to me. Unfortunately, the idea of reaching absolute perfection has been carved into my brain like caveman carving pictures into walls, permanently. That soon turned my attitude away from My mental health and only focusing on perfection.

And now, I have intense OCD that is just as unbearable as the temper that my dad had when I was younger. To this day on, when someone mentions my dad's ways of teaching, I always talk bad about him.

The main point I'm trying to make is that perfection needs to have a look at the reality beforehand. If you want to be at the top of something, you have to be honest with yourself: Can I make it? At what cost? Before things go out of hand.

I hope you critics take my message seriously.