() () () () ()
Damien Chazelle
October 10, 2014
In 2014 Miles Teller would star in “That Awkward Moment” and “Two Night Stand”, however, neither would prove to be as drama packed as “Whiplash”. Because not only is the flick cinematically explosive, it is also deeply personal and finds its way into the back pocket of director Damien Chazelle’s early life as a music student. It is a dive into the cutthroat music industry that begs the question, how far are you willing to push yourself to be great? A question answered in a series of incredible screen play, award winning editing and music that will live in your head rent free.
Unlike many students entering their first year of college, Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) has already found his passion, drumming. Neyman is enrolled at Fordham, the best music school in the country, and as a freshman starts out in the intermediate jazz band. Fortunately infamous Terrence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), famed for directing Fordham’s studio band stumbles upon Neyman drumming one New York evening. He listens, gives a few orders, listens again, and leaves unpleased. That was it. That was Andrew’s chance to impress what would become the most influential person in his life and he didn’t cut it. But for the sake of the movie, Andrew doesn’t roll over just yet. And instead of accepting the realization that music is a nasty business to get into, just like his father (Paul Reiser) kindly reminds, he gets back to work.
Days later when Fletcher bashfully interrupts the intermediate jazz band, he orders Neyman to deliver the “double-time swing” he had asked for in their first encounter, this time Neyman nails it. This would be just one of the many ways that Fletcher would express his “teaching style.” And after inducting him into the studio band, Neyman would experience firsthand the many other barbaric technique’s that Fletcher would invoke, including physical and mental violence, because “Any fucking moron can wave his arms around and keep people in Tempo. I was there to push people beyond what’s expected of them.”
Miles Teller does an excellent job in finding the perfect blend between a confident and insecure teenage boy. Watching Neyman grow at the hands of Fletcher is one of the most entertaining aspects of the movie. All the hatred and arrogance that Fletcher dumps onto Neyman’s vulnerable psychique are released in the form of grim passive-aggressive comments, a real breath of fresh air from the blood, screaming, and violence.
If there was one make-or-break aspect to “Whiplash,” it was J.K. Simmons. Playing the role of a sadistic perfectionist who received a Ph.D. in mind-fucking and landing it is not easy. Even Heath Ledger had to go a little psycho to play the role of the joker. Luckily J.K. Simmons didn’t have to endure any mentally or physically draining training for the role of Fletcher, because his stern, malleable face was enough to keep the cast and audience vigilant. Oh, the hell that awaits for those who don’t keep tempo.
BelowBlue Movie Reviews 