Whiplash (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'Whiplash' (written/directed by newcomer Damien Chazelle) is a compelling comic drama about the unrelenting, feverish pursuit of musical perfection. Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller, The Spectacular Now, Rabbit Hole) is an ambitious young jazz drummer; talented enough to make it into NYC's prestigious - if cutthroat - music conservatory, The Schaffer Academy. Motherless, and plagued by the unsuccessful writing career of his father (Paul Reiser), Andrew is hellbent on becoming one of the greats of his craft. Over at the Academy, there's no bigger 'badge of approval' than to be invited to join its elite jazz band, led by the tough-as-nails, enigmatic Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons). Fletcher has groomed some of jazz's best musicians, but pleasing him is nearly impossible.
Aside from the usual "nail that tempo!" teaching style, Fletcher's method includes complete & utter humiliation. He'll toss a chair at you, he'll cut you down with cruel name-calling (involving profanity, homophobic insults, & more), he'll do almost ANYTHING to get his artist to hit the note he needs. So while, Andrew is on Cloud 9 after having made the initial cut, and while he's elated to be dating a cutie named Nicole, his passion to achieve musical perfection quickly spirals into dangerous obsession, as his ruthless teacher continues to push him to the brink of his abilities ... as well as his sanity. Drama ensues involving injury, suicide, law suits, & betrayals. And depending on the viewer's perspective, the very last moments of the film can be viewed as either triumphant or tragic (or both, simultaneously).
Phewww. This movie is exhausting. It's a GOOD exhausting, but exhausting, nevertheless. Enthralling at times, too. Alive. There's one particular scene near the end when Andrew is hunched over the drum set, achhhhing to get through what will likely be the most important performance of his life. His hands are fluttering, sweating, spitting blood, moving on their own accord. His body is overcome with frenetic tension & pain {his face!}. His will to impress & execute is driven to the limit. But Andrew simply will not quit. He'll finish this last musical task ... even if it kills him. Again, phewww. My heart races a bit just thinking about the scene.
Miles Teller's investment in his performance is astounding to watch. Does he play drums in real life? Is it camera/audio trickery? I don't know, I don't care ... he blew me away. Whether it was his drum playing or the emotional intensity with which he plays each scene, I was mighty impressed. Side note: his resemblance to a young John Cusack is uncanny. J.K. Simmons plays the more in-your-face, complex character; a scary-ass music teacher whose motivations & tactics are inscrutable. He's a cruel, heartless man whose "end justifies the means" mantra makes him the type of nightmare teacher who everyone fears. And yet, for as horrible as he is, my favorite scene includes Fletcher quietly playing a piano with Andrew looking on from a distance. We see the passion this man has for his art.
'Whiplash' is impressive, admirable, but it does have a few shortcomings (for me). Firstly, after a promising start to the romance subplot btwn. Andrew & Nicole, it doesn't really go anywhere & winds up being unnecessary in the end. Also, for as superb as J.K. Simmons is in his portrayal as a master manipulator, there is a certain impenetrability about his Fletcher which made his motives for madness feel a little cloudy. And lastly, the film - while lean & muscular - felt small; felt indie. I wanted a bit more. Having said all of that, I still think 'Whiplash' is a unique, beautiful homage to jazz. It conveys an epic battle of wills btwn. 2 obsessed artists. And it rivets in telling a sort of horror flick about teacher-student relationships gone dismayingly awry. Again, I say: Phewww.
Aside from the usual "nail that tempo!" teaching style, Fletcher's method includes complete & utter humiliation. He'll toss a chair at you, he'll cut you down with cruel name-calling (involving profanity, homophobic insults, & more), he'll do almost ANYTHING to get his artist to hit the note he needs. So while, Andrew is on Cloud 9 after having made the initial cut, and while he's elated to be dating a cutie named Nicole, his passion to achieve musical perfection quickly spirals into dangerous obsession, as his ruthless teacher continues to push him to the brink of his abilities ... as well as his sanity. Drama ensues involving injury, suicide, law suits, & betrayals. And depending on the viewer's perspective, the very last moments of the film can be viewed as either triumphant or tragic (or both, simultaneously).
Phewww. This movie is exhausting. It's a GOOD exhausting, but exhausting, nevertheless. Enthralling at times, too. Alive. There's one particular scene near the end when Andrew is hunched over the drum set, achhhhing to get through what will likely be the most important performance of his life. His hands are fluttering, sweating, spitting blood, moving on their own accord. His body is overcome with frenetic tension & pain {his face!}. His will to impress & execute is driven to the limit. But Andrew simply will not quit. He'll finish this last musical task ... even if it kills him. Again, phewww. My heart races a bit just thinking about the scene.
Miles Teller's investment in his performance is astounding to watch. Does he play drums in real life? Is it camera/audio trickery? I don't know, I don't care ... he blew me away. Whether it was his drum playing or the emotional intensity with which he plays each scene, I was mighty impressed. Side note: his resemblance to a young John Cusack is uncanny. J.K. Simmons plays the more in-your-face, complex character; a scary-ass music teacher whose motivations & tactics are inscrutable. He's a cruel, heartless man whose "end justifies the means" mantra makes him the type of nightmare teacher who everyone fears. And yet, for as horrible as he is, my favorite scene includes Fletcher quietly playing a piano with Andrew looking on from a distance. We see the passion this man has for his art.
'Whiplash' is impressive, admirable, but it does have a few shortcomings (for me). Firstly, after a promising start to the romance subplot btwn. Andrew & Nicole, it doesn't really go anywhere & winds up being unnecessary in the end. Also, for as superb as J.K. Simmons is in his portrayal as a master manipulator, there is a certain impenetrability about his Fletcher which made his motives for madness feel a little cloudy. And lastly, the film - while lean & muscular - felt small; felt indie. I wanted a bit more. Having said all of that, I still think 'Whiplash' is a unique, beautiful homage to jazz. It conveys an epic battle of wills btwn. 2 obsessed artists. And it rivets in telling a sort of horror flick about teacher-student relationships gone dismayingly awry. Again, I say: Phewww.