Whiplash Movie Review

Whiplash (2014)

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Written by: Damien Chazelle
Directed by: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser
Rated: R
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Plot
An ambitious student set on becoming one of the greatest drummers collides with a professor determined to develop talent by pushing students beyond all reasonable measures.

Verdict
How far will you go to succeed? That's the question, and the movie grabs you from the beginning with an egotistical yet talented student and a ruthless teacher. In nearly every scene Andrew pushes himself further. His teacher pushes him beyond reason to make him great. The only thing that rivals the tempo of the music is the pacing of this movie. Both are relentless. It's a battle for power, control, and approval. Then we get to the final sequence, and that generates the question of who won? Did Andrew finally get his approval. Did Fletcher finally turn a student into a great musician? I'm not sure anyone succeeded. Based on the events in this movie, the idea that either of them would get what they want is pure fantasy.
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Review
Fletcher (J. K. Simmons) proves to be a difficult and overbearing professor from the start when he discovers Andrew (Miles Teller) practicing the drums. During their first encounter Andrew stops playing when Fletcher enters and resumes when Fletcher asks why he stopped playing. Fletcher criticizes him and walks out. It's a failed impromptu audition as Andrew knows Fletcher conducts the top band at the school. It's representative of the movie as a whole. No matter what he does Andrew can never please Fletcher.

J.K. Simmons plays Fletcher

He gets another chance and does enough, though we get the sense Fletcher can't be impressed. This band is good but Fletcher plays autocrat in the classroom. This is Andrew's first day, and he is stunned at the verbal and physical abuse. Fletcher dismisses a student from the band because he plays out of tune, and it turns out the guy wasn't out of tune. He was dismissed for not knowing.

Andrew gets a pep talk from Fletcher before his first attempt. It starts well before it takes a turn. Fletcher derides Andrew, stopping the band multiple times and stating, "not my tempo." Fletcher then yells and slaps him. As much as Andrew practices, it's not enough. Is it Andrew or Fletcher? Despite the setback Andrew is undeterred. His dream is being a musician, and the path is playing with the schools most esteemed band. He'll gladly endure abuse at the chance to be great.

Miles Teller plays Andrew

The movie analyzes the definition of success. Andrew is egotistical, and dismissive of traditional pursuits like sports. He thinks jazz is only for the elite and he's destined to be great, but how much should you endure to reach your dream? Andrew's sole focus is drums. He dismisses everyone else, endures grueling practices, and isolates himself. Is it to be great like he proclaims or just for the approval of a professor he considers important? Does abuse really develop greatness? While Fletcher's stance is that the greats can't be deterred, that seems more like an excuse to cover his terrible behavior. 

Even when Andrew does well, Fletcher doesn't relent. Everything is a test and an insult. He pits Andrew against a former band mate Ryan Connolly (Austin Stowell), praising Connolly when the audience, and Andrew, knows Andrew is better. Then we get a moment of humanity from Fletcher before he cycles through Andrew and two other drummers, claiming they aren't matching the tempo he desires. He verbally attacks them, getting personal. While Andrew gets the part, do you even want it at that point? We haven't seen Fletcher treat any other student like that. Why does he think that the way to foster talent is through abuse? Andrew reaches a breaking point after enduring mental and physical trauma while ignoring it to please Fletcher. Is the praise worth the struggle? Andrew flips out during a performance which results in his dismissal. 

Fletcher and Andrew later meet, and Andrew asks him if there's a line. No. Fletcher wants to wear down a students confidence and still have them get up and refuse to quit, believing that a great musician would never relent no matter the obstacle. Does Fletcher want to find a great or just wreak havoc? Is this his revenge at not being a great himself? We don't know how successful Fletcher was commercially. Fletcher then asks Andrew to join a band he's in, another mind game. Why would Andrew subject himself to that again? Why would Fletcher want him back? I imagined it had to be some kind of ruse, another chance to grind Andrew into the ground.

J.K. Simmons, Miles Teller play Fletcher, Andrew

The conclusion is a culmination of the story and the music, a battle between the two on stage. Is this even real? Is it Andrew having a break down or taking control? Finally getting Fletcher's approval seems unlikely, but what makes this seem surreal is how long the scene continues. I find it difficult to believe Fletcher would encourage Andrew. And it just keeps going, only the two of them on screen. If it's not real, when did this split? If it is real, it's such a power play. Andrew wants approval, breaks free for an instant before Fletcher regains control because Andrew wants to be great and Fletcher is the one that defines that. The entire movie is Andrew's delusions of greatness. He isolates himself in preparation for that future. Any victory he has is muted, usually by Fletcher. Did Andrew finally achieve the success and approval he wanted or was he so broken he only imagined it, left only with the dream of what could have been?