Whiplash is a 2014
Best Picture nominee with a performance by the Best Supporting Actor winner of
2014, J.K. Simmons. The film is directed by Damien Chazelle and, in light of
the upcoming release of his wildly critically exalted film La La Land, I will be taking a look back at this other directorial
effort. The film stars Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, and Mellissa Benoist. It
follows the story of a young drummer who gets an opportunity and endures a
punishing music instructor dead set on making him one of the greats.
Whiplash is a
brilliant film. It was my personal favorite film looking back at 2014 (although
I confess I saw it for the first time much later). What makes Whiplash brilliant is a wonderful
combination of quality performances, a thought provoking topic, superb
direction, and excellent musicality.
From a performance perspective, Teller and Simmons have by
far the most to do in this film and they both deliver their parts superbly.
Teller plays a character that has to show you an emotional struggle and make
you buy in to what he is going through and he does so excellently. He also shows
an ability to make you buy into his drum playing ability which is essential for
this film to work in the slightest. Simmons plays a character that in many ways
resembles the drill sergeant from Full
Metal Jacket. In fact, I think his beratement of Teller and other
characters in the film is superior to that wonderful effort and provides so
many of the best cinematic insults of all time.
On top of the performances, the film dares to ask the
question of whether art and greatness are more important than an individual’s
psyche or livelihood. What is most shocking about it is that the film may answer that question in a way most
wouldn’t expect just being presented with the question. I think this is a
really powerful thing about the film and makes you think and care and invest in
everything going on in it.
Additionally, the film has brilliant direction. Chazelle
clearly has a handle on his craft in this film. Everything looks beautiful and
comes together seamlessly to make this a great film. Each piece serves its
function and the skill of a director in managing all these things going on and
making sure they work together is what makes all the difference. This film
could have been extremely pedestrian, but because of what Chazelle did it was
next level excellent. From start to finish. On the subject of finish, and
without spoiling anything, this might have the best ending to a film I have
ever seen.
The final great thing, and the true hero of this film is the
music. It is great exciting jazz with wonderful flair. This film is just as
brilliant to listen to as it is to watch. Film is both a visual and an auditory
medium and Whiplash takes advantage
of both in ways that most films could only dream of. Moreover, this film uses a unique instrument,
the drums, that people are not necessarily used to hearing as a focal
instrument. Often drums are percussion and background beat; here they are the
absolute star. All of this comes together with sheer brilliance.
I have next to nothing bad to say about Whiplash. It is a small story, perhaps, and there are some elements
to the Miles Teller-Melissa Benoist relationship that feel unnecessary, but as
a general matter all of these still work in a film that is outstanding. Whiplash is a near perfect film and it
is that because of brilliant performances, interesting story, great direction,
and solid musicality. Absolutely a must see and it is easy to see what people
are excited to see in La La Land.
Ryan’s Score: 9.5/10
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