Review of Whiplash (2014) by Quincytheodore — 23 Feb 2015

Whiplash, as the name suggests, packs a serious punch. There hasn’t been a musical movie, or any movie for that matter, that gives such intense human relationship. The film brings a rich drama performed by engaging actors, it is crude in its nature but also possesses classy rhythm. Its mix of true to live cinematography and brilliantly pace musical score is edited so well, audience can’t help to be drawn to its excellent tension.

Andrew Nieman (Milles Teller) is a drummer and student in one of the best music schools. He’s recruited by Terrence Fletcher (J. K. Simmons), a well-known teacher who’s searching for a new musician to join his band. Nieman is a very dedicated young man, he strives to win Fletcher’s approval but little did he know that Fletcher’s method of teaching is rather unorthodox. The way Fletcher motivates his students is with a lot of profanities, overly honest assessment and borderline abusive behavior. Lots of stick with barely any carrot.

The two are embroiled in an odd relationship, and both leads perform magnificently. Milles Teller represents the youthful ambitious character with hidden aggressive poise. Whereas Simmons as Fletcher is brilliantly antagonistic, he’s a mentor but often time he resembles a manipulative enemy. From his body language and yell Simmons is too convincing, it could be unnerving at times, in the best possible way. If he had the opportunity like this in old Spider-Man movies as he portrayed the pushy editor, they would have been truly amazing.

Camerawork captures the flow meticulously and mostly in close-up, it often pans back or slowly approaches the scene, allowing the audience to have a sense of the setting. However, when the music hits, it goes into high gears. Switching back and forth between the plowing of the drum, characters’ subtle expressions or winces, down to the blood and sweat. The film’s editing is wonderfully fitting, each frame is also accompanied by a spirited explosion of instruments. It’s powerful, inevitably engrossingly.

Whiplash is a monster of a movie, never skipping a beat. Rude, brash but stylishly captivating.