Whether you're a music lover or not, there are some films that give a crazy glimpse into a musician's world. That is the case with WHIPLASH, writer/director Damien Chazelle's second feature film, which portrays the abusive relationship between a driven musician and his jazz band conductor.
Andrew (Miles Teller) is a drummer at one of the best music schools in the country, and takes his music very seriously. When Terrence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), a conductor for a competitive jazz band, barges into one of Andrew's rehearsals one day and spontaneously auditions everyone in the room, Andrew makes an impression, and he pulls him in to be an alternative in his band.
For one brief moment, Andrew is excited about his victory; Fletcher even buddies up to Andrew in the hallway and asks him about his personal life, making Andrew feel special. But as soon as the doors to the rehearsal space close, Fletcher becomes a ruthless, overbearing dictator of a conductor, barking at his students like a drill sergeant over the smallest of mistakes, and using the information he just learned about Andrew against him. Fletcher believes in pushing people to see just how far they can go; his favorite anecdote is that Charlie Parker would never have been such a successful musician if Jo Jones had not thrown a cymbal at his head.
Despite the verbal and physical abuse, Andrew jumps on board with his conductor's sentiments. He practices until his fingers bleed... and then a little more. He ends his relationship with his new girlfriend, Nicole (Melissa Benoist), in order to spend more time practicing. As the story continues, the tension rises, and just how close Andrew is to the brink of insanity comes into question as Fletcher pushes him to the limit and beyond. The film becomes less about music and more about power, a competition not between jazz bands but between teacher and student, about who will give in first and who will remain strong. In a scene where Andrew desperately tries to protect the part he's earned, Fletcher spits back, "It's my part, and I'll give it to who I want."
I will refrain from saying too much about the latter half of the film, but suffice it to say you will find your entire body tensing up until the very last scene. The cinematography in this film bristles with energy, right down to the close-ups of blood-covered snare drums. And the music is just as electrifying; Teller deserves an extra laud, as well, for actually performing musically for the film. This makes the practically orgasmic sequence toward the end of the film even better, as both actor and character were able to reach that level of skill.
Both Teller and Simmons deserve Oscar nominations for this film. The level of passion that they brought to their characters is unbelievable, culminating in what is possibly their finest performances. The fact that WHIPLASH won Sundance, both for the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award, is not at all surprising to me. Make sure you check this film out... in fact, watch it twice. I'm planning on it. Now playing at the Midtown Cinema!
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