4.5/5 Whiplash We read and see so much about famous artists, musicians, athletes, and other notable people that have honed a skill we admire. If you notice, though, we really only enjoy them at the peak of their game. We never see them sweating, bleeding, and practicing for hours on end. We know the masters, but few are born masters. Writer/director Damien Chazelle’s simmering Whiplash places us right there in that moment when an amateur becomes a master. Our subject is Andrew (Miles Teller) and his skill is drumming, jazz to be exact. After getting into the premier group at his conservatory, Andrew comes into contact with the legendary, infamous Fletcher (J.K. Simmons). Fletcher makes a sport out of making clear the “best” know just how unskilled they are - at least in his eyes. Spewing poison and hate-filled insults at every opportunity, it becomes apparent that the art of belittling is Fletcher’s specialty. His motto: “There are no words more harmful in the English language than 'good job’.” So what happens when Fletcher goes head to head with a student that just may be special? That is what you will have to see the movie to find out. In this 107 minutes lies a brand new dimension of character studies, one that blends traditional tension with deep reflection. The lines begin to blur as to why Andrew is practicing so hard - so hard, in fact, that his kit is covered in blood after every performance. Are the long nights of double-time swing meant to hone his skills to be the best or prove Fletcher wrong? What drives us to be the best at anything? I am sure it always begins with personal drive, but having something to prove almost always bleeds into that ambition. Is that necessarily a bad thing? Deep thinking aside, the real reason anyone should see Whiplash is to witness the equally volcanic performances of Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons. Both actors give their best work to date - maybe even of their lives. Teller may play like a man on fire, but he digs deep into all of those questions I asked in the previous paragraph, often times with little more than a glance. Andrew begins a relationship with fellow student Nicole (Glee’s Melissa Benoist), but soon realizes, as most consumed artists do, that he can not balance affection and ambition. Teller’s portrayal of this conflicted pain is spot on. Simmons, mostly known for his supporting role as J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’s Spiderman films, is the true breakout star of this film. Teller has been on the rise here recently, but no one was expecting Simmons to take on a role of this magnitude and deliver at such a high level of perfection. What Andrew does to his drums in the movie, Simmons does to this role: performs the hell out of it. If someone does not give this man an award, I am going to make one myself and give it to him - that’s just a joke, of course, Mr. Simmons. In the end, the actors’ work here is so perfect that it almost eclipses the nuances of the story, which are actually rather subtle. So how far do you think one should go to be the best? It’s a rather disarming question, and it is one that Chazelle examines beautifully. (For local readers, this film is showing in New Orleans.) | Director: Damien Chazelle Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons Screenwriter: Damien Chazelle |
"Whiplash" redefines the character study with surmounting tension and volcanic performances.11/18/2014
1 Comment
Alyssa Ashley
11/18/2014 10:37:33 am
I love Miles Teller! I think he's going to be one of our next groundbreaking actors.
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