The determination and drive to be the best

Rating: 9/10 (18 February 2015)

If there is a craft in which you are trying to succeed at all costs, you need to fully realize that it will take every ounce of commitment from you, even if that alienates you in the eyes of others. The question is are you willing to go through with it? Whiplash is, in that regard, the answer to that situation, and whether one agrees with the method of getting to one's full potential, one cannot deny that once the final product is revealed, the struggle was worth it.
So, we are introduced to a young man named Andrew (Miles Teller), with dreams of becoming one of the great jazz drummers to ever exist. At the music school he attends, Andrew is picked by the most lauded teacher in the staff, Terrence Fletcher (J.K Simmons), seemingly to Andrew's delight. But he will soon discover that his new mentor is abusive and mean spirited with his teaching method. From there on, Fletcher will look to push Andrew to his limits in order to truly shine as a full fledged drummer, while Andrew will have to decide how much he is willing to give up in order to make his dream come to fruition.
All in all, when it comes to passion for art, in this specific case music, Whiplash showcases a powerful connection between the art form and it's performers. The movie works around the dynamic between Andrew and Fletcher, which is to say the student and the master. However it's in a twisted reverse psychology motivational tool that Whiplash stands out from other movies of the type (besides maybe war movies, where tough discipline is a way of preparing for the future). The relationship as a whole grows throughout the movie, as does Teller's performance, as he becomes increasingly more confident and focused. As for the soon to be Oscar winning turn from J.K Simmons, one can immediately highlight is commanding presence and demanding nature when he is angrily shouting at his students, yet his ability to change right back to a more understanding figure shows the diversity he brought to the role, as he is asserting in both capacities.
Whiplash is unlike any movie you will see about the fight to excel no matter what obstacles are put in front of you. It's an addictive, powerful and complete film that will leave you begging for more.
Rating: 9/10