Whiplash

Genre: psychological drama

With: Miles Teller (Andrew Neimann), J.K. Simmons (Fletcher), Paul Reiser (Jim Neimann), Melissa Benoist (Nicole), Austin Stowell (Ryan), Nate Lang (Carl Tanner), Chris Mulkey (Uncle Frank), Damon Gupton (Mr. Kramer)

Director: Damien Chazelle

Screenplay: Damien Chazelle

Release: 2014

Studio: Bold Films, Blumhouse Productions, Right of Way Films, Sierra/Affinity

Rating: R

MBiS score: 8.2/10 

 

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Story-line: for Andrew Neimann, a drum student at the Shaffer Conservatory, working under teacher Terence Fletcher would be a dream come true. To make it happen, however, he will have to accept Fletcher as he is, warts and all.

Pluses: heavy-duty acting by Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons (in a wide-ranging, Oscar-winning performance as the mercurial Fletcher), able support from a good cast, first-rate direction, an interesting screenplay dipped in acid and psychological stress, attractive cinematography, a fine musical score, convincing production values, great editing and sound (both rewarded with Oscars). Please note that the film was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay.

Minuses: the language used − although indicative of a very competitive academic environment – is excessively derogatory, cruel and vulgar in a jazz context (does music really soothe the savage beast?). I subtracted 0.2 from my overall score because of the single-mindedness of the screenplay and its questionable, dog-eat-dog moral message.    

Comments: Vic Braden (1929-2014), a lovable tennis teacher and psychology graduate, once said that he tried to match sadists against masochists at his training camps so all his players would be happy. You could say as much about the relationship between Andrew and Fletcher in the dynamic and very demanding WHIPLASH: in some way, they need each other so much that they’ll make life miserable for each other and everybody else. I guess this is what musicians call ‟paying your dues”… 

 

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