As one of my most anticipated films of the 2014 award season, Whiplash, from writer and director Damien Chazelle, did not disappoint. This jazz-infused drama bursts its way through an entire spectrum of emotion. It is as heartbreaking as it is inspirational, and as rage inducing as it is funny. Simply put, this film is one of 2014’s best.
Inspired by Damien Chazelle’s own experiences as a young musician, Whiplash is the story of 19-yeard-old Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), a jazz drummer who attends the most prestigious music school in the country, the fictional Shaffer Conservatory. Neiman is discovered practicing after rehearsal hours by Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), the conductor of the premier jazz ensemble at the school. When Neiman is asked to join Fletcher’s ensemble, we see the toll it takes on him emotionally and physically while in pursuit of his dream, becoming “one of the greats”.
What drew me initially to Whiplash were its two lead actors. Here, Miles Teller (The Spectacular Now, 21 & Over) shows that he can go beyond the goofy, wise-cracking teen persona he usually plays. Andrew Neiman still cracks wise, because it’s his defense mechanism against those who do not see his way. It is this side of Neiman that makes him incredibly similar to his maestro, Terrence Fletcher, played here by the ruthless and bitingly funny J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man, Juno). Fletcher, instead, uses his sharp tongue and intimidating demeanor to manipulate his students and strike fear into those who are not performing to his standards.
Neiman and Fletcher make for fearsome and violent adversaries and I never wanted to look away, making Whiplash truly engrossing from title to credits. Fletcher challenges Neiman to perform and practice until sweat and blood drench his drum kit. When Neiman does pull through, it only raises the stakes of Fletcher’s next challenge. We get to see this cat-and-mouse game come to multiple satisfying crescendos throughout the film.
That is not to say that Fletcher is entirely unlikable, nor is he heartless. We see him, even to Neiman, act like a truly kind and caring individual. However, when it comes time to conduct his ensemble, Fletcher is no holds barred vicious, foul mouthed, and abusive. At the very same time, he is just as vulnerable as his students. Fletcher’s desire to extract perfection weighs on him heavily, but also justifies most of the detestable actions. J.K. Simmons pulls this off perfectly, switching between good and bad at the drop of a hat, which creates some very funny moments. And just like Teller, Simmons goes beyond the “yelling guy” we have seen from him before to deliver a performance that is both impressive, menacing, and a career-best.
For a film that centers itself on jazz musicians, Whiplash is more bombastic than any action film I watched this year. This is due to the incredible score from composer Justin Hurwitz that combines jazz with a few of the more modern touches we expect from film scores today. The score sets moods perfectly with strings or horns coming in only when they need to. The film also features compositions from famous names in jazz, including the titular “Whiplash”, and each piece is intense and really fun to listen to. Whiplash is not a love letter to jazz, nor is it an homage to its history, it is simply an introduction. No prior knowledge is necessary to enjoy the music, and the unbiased presentation shatters preconceived notions of the genre. Having never listened to jazz, I now find the genre to be more approachable than it was before.
I have one small issue with the film. At two points, it asks its audience to suspend disbelief briefly. This is strange since, aside from these two instances, the film is heavily grounded in reality. Then again, it is drama so this isn’t entirely unexpected. Plus, the two out of place scenes are precursors to Neiman’s most intense performances.
Damien Chazelle’s sophomore effort is a tightly written and expertly directed film that boasts two career defining performances from Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons, as well as a score that fits the bill. My expectations were surpassed by every facet of Whiplash.
Rating: Whiplash is a fast-paced, character driven drama that packs powerful performances and cements itself with the best films of 2014. (9/10)
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