Director: Damien Chazelle
By Alex Watson
We have all had that one teacher who is just tyrannical and control the class with a rod of of iron. It forever seems that they feel that the harder they shout, the further fear will push us onwards. The effect always varies and sometimes you can push that one person to breaking point. Director Damien Chazelle this week explores one teacher and pupil relationship where a mentor will stop at nothing, no matter how hard to achieve glory. Prepare for some tense viewing in Whiplash.
Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) is an aspiring young jazz drummer at Schaffer Conservatory of Music in New York City who yearns for greatness. When his talent is noticed by notorious band conductor Terrence Fletcher (JK Simmons), he offers him a seat in his band. Upon arriving, he quickly realizes that his mentor is one so obsessed with glory that he freely and harshly abuses his students to get desired results! While aware of that his entire future can be cut in an instant, Andrew strives to be the best he can be- but this could all come at great cost!
Whiplash is an intense but ultimately a stunning and dominant piece from Damien Chazelle that completely restructures the music film genre. The opening scene gives a key indicator for what is to come in the relationship between Fletcher and Neyman, as the teacher finds him hammering away late one night. Within seconds he has launched into a verbal tirade and leaves the room. Fletcher is a man who can instantly command attention, clad in his tight black t-shirt and armed with a variety of mean and inventive insults "If you deliberately sabotage my band, I will fuck you like a pig." he proves to be the movies knife-edge!
The scenes in the class room prove to be the real psychological tension of the movie as Fletcher's frightening persona rears its ugly head. The musicians in the band are there to play to complete perfection, even the slightest off key note results in their teacher snatching the air then viciously humiliating them in front of the entire class! From this point onwards, the man proves to be a powerful but destructive force in Andrew's life and although he is pushing him towards his goal, he is also driving him to the limits of control. As Terrence denotes “There are no two words more harmful than ‘good job,’" and although the fear he provides keeps them focused, it is more harmful than he realizes.
As a character, Andrew doesn't always have our complete sympathy because although he goes from a shy young man struggling to ask out pretty cinema clerk Nicole (Melissa Benoist) to practically spilling out his inner ego on stage. Coming from a family of low achievers, including his quiet teacher father (Paul Reiser), his dedication to becoming perfect is one that is troubling throughout. Fletcher's presence haunts the movie even when he is off stage and fearing for his band future, Andrew continually plays hard until his skin bleeds to 'Earn the Part'. The movie's tempo is set very high by Chazelle all the way through Whiplash and we can sense that a conventional happy ending may not in store for either character.
But the end result we are given provides one of this year's most memorable climax's as the two men showdown on music most fitting battleground- the stage! What begins as a seemingly harsh act of betrayal turns into a moment that no one is likely to forget and provides an exhausting but utterly thrilling feel. Terrence is fond of telling Andrew the story of jazz legend Charlie 'Bird' Parker having an cymbal thrown at his head by Joe Jones, without giving too much away I will simply say the legend will come full circle.
JK Simmons makes for a monstrous yet absolutely magnetic presence in Chazelle's film and finally makes the transition from reliable character actor to potential prize contender. A powerful yet horrific force, Simmons blindingly turns in what could prove to be a career defining performance! At long last audiences are witness to what this man can do when pushed into the spotlight, Fletcher is a man so volatile that even Jonah Jameson from Spiderman would recoil in his presence! Up and coming star Miles Teller is equally superb as the fame hungry Andrew. His role is one that is not only physically demanding but also emotionally draining. On both counts, Teller soars highly and shows us a new talent is around the corner- his casting in the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot could prove smart business.
Whiplash is a film unlike any other that you will see this year and through the electrics turns from Simmons and Teller along with the hyper real direction from Chazelle, you are given a picture that will have you attention from the first drum note played! Also it will make you think of the ultimate price of fame and whether it is worth maybe losing yourself?
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