![Whiplash poster](https://i0.wp.com/o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/220e7241ec0f8e5cacafdc576d2a80be/200579756/WHIPLASH+onesheet.jpg)
I view Whiplash as a character study of the hard working self-made billionaire entrepreneur where it explores the cutthroat ride of hard work and how it will pay-off in the future. Whiplash also gives me a preview of how is it like studying in a top Ivy League school. Every day is intense, filled with books, classes, discussions, homeworks, reading, and time management. Personally, I love Whiplash as I understand its motives from the characters and the script itself. Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons put on a convincing teacher-mentor relationship that gives us the visualization of how modern great men are molded and created. Whiplash is a wild ride of psychological battles that you will enjoy, whether you play music or not.
Whiplash tells a tale about a music school student named Andrew Neyman (Teller), he is a jazz drummer playing in a prestigious music school in New York. He wants to be the best, he wants to play in Lincoln Center, he wants to be the next Buddy Rich. He believes that the only way to achieve success is to be in Studio Band, an ensemble which is led by Terence Fletcher (Simmons). Fletcher looks for the best and milks every individual in his band to be the best. He constantly roam around classes trying out different players for his band. Andrew Neyman got in and beyond that is a Teacher-Student chemistry that I have not seen anywhere in any other film.
Generally, people would disagree of Fletcher’s method in developing his students, but keep in mind that this is not high school or community college. Personally, I understand Fletcher’s passion for greatness and quality. That also applies to Neyman, his obsession of practicing until he bleeds and moving his bed to the practice room is somewhat a strange scenery to most people. But, personally I understand both character’s motives. Greatness cannot be achieved without high ego, hard work, and passion. This pursuit of greatness sets the tone of this film. It is dark, fast-paced, and intense.
To give you a picture of how Fletcher teaches his players, remember that one teacher in school that is always angry and always milking his student to the brink of tears, but every student knows that his method is right and if we do not follow his steps then we can forget about greatness and success. Try imagining a Marine Drill Sergeant conducting a jazz band, that would give you an easier analogy of Terence Fletcher.
What about Andrew Neyman? Remember that kid in your class that is all work and no play? That kid that spends his time in the library, goes home right after the bell rang to study more, and always asking lots of questions to the teacher, but fast forward 10 years later, he’s already working in some big shot Fortune 500 company with lots of money in the bank while you regret every single thing you’ve done in high school.
That level of envy and amazement is how I would view Miles Teller’s performance of Andrew Neyman. I envy his hardwork so much that I need to introspect my life after the credit rolls. The overall pace of this movie is fast and you just never know what Fletcher would do next in the next scenes. Fletcher attacks Neyman psychologically from a lot of angle, at first he’s good to him, next scene he’s torturing him like a pig on a shishkebab.
![Andrew & Fletcher](https://i0.wp.com/ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ5Njk1Mjc5N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDQ5NTc4MDE@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg)
Whiplash is dark, picture wise. Every frame in this movie is a painting itself, and the balance use of handheld camera and steady camera is balanced. An interesting observation I made is that the camera switches handheld when the character’s emotions are unbalanced, portrait by the shaking of the scenes itself, although not as much as a shaky cam. It shows a very dark blend of colours as throughout the whole movie it has been very dark and red. Personally, I think that this blend of colour and camera work somehow portrays the emotional state of Andrew Neyman himself, he is dark and solid as a rock, but give him enough pressure he becomes so unstable.
I also enjoy the score of this movie. I listen to it all the time and very hooked to Caravan. Every song fits the mood of the scenes and the state of Andrew Neyman. You can listen to the soundtrack when at work, when commuting, before going to sleep, or a music to fill your room. The movie itself also achieve the perfect use of silence and when is the best time to use music or sound. Damien Chazelle gives a touch or Scorsese formula in this movie, which is: Being with loud sound, silence, end with a bang.
Whiplash is a movie about motivation in achieving success. It is a character study of Andrew Neyman which can be related to the great men of the 21st century. His pursuit of greatness can be found in many successful entrepreneurs and great men of today’s world. It is also a character study of the catalyst of success, the Teacher or if I may put how the Universe treats us in our lives. The Universe gives us shit and gives us a beating in life but the Universe only cares for those who are worthy enough to get up and fight. I understand the pursuit of greatness by Andrew Neyman and the obstacle Terence Fletcher gave him, only those who have a drive and is willing to see the bigger picture of hard work is the one who gets a nod from the Universe to be great.
The weak die out and the strong will survive, and will live on forever
-Anne Frank
5/5
Movies that are similar to this:
- Nightcrawler (2014)
- Raging Bull (1980)
- The Social Network (2010)
Purchase this movie on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Whiplash-Blu-ray-J-K-Simmons/dp/B00PT3AUYO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422367123&sr=8-1&keywords=whiplash+bluray&pebp=1422367129617&peasin=B00PT3AUYO
Purchase the sountrack on iTunes! https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/whiplash-original-motion-picture/id918264571
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Text edited by : Renny Yulistia Adystiani
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