Hard-hitting, yes, but lacks impact

Rating: 6/10 (23 December 2015)

With all the Hollywood blockbusters to hit the silver screen, it's often refreshing to discover something that has received so little attention but deserves so much more. One such film is Whiplash, a disturbing, gritty drama about student drummer Andrew (Miles Teller), and his abusive tutor Fletcher (J K Simmons). Andrew plays until his hands bleed, and continues regardless of the obstacles precluding him from achieving greatness, including his on-off girlfriend Nicole (Melissa Benoist). A story of passion, obsession and determination, Whiplash pushes the boundaries of modern drama and presents us with a harrowing tale of emotional abuse.
Whiplash is a bizarre little film. The cinematography is great, and the acting flawless. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu does an excellent job at conveying what is essentially a gritty, brutal tale of verbal and emotional abuse. But that's about as good as it gets. The pacing is fine, and the characters are well-developed, so what's the problem?
The issue lies in the fact that not one of the central characters is remotely likable. I have to admit, by the film's conclusion I was somewhat taken aback, due to the fact that, apart from its being rather abrupt, it appeared to have taken a completely different direction to what I was expecting. The tutor never gets his comeuppance, and the protagonist never really learns a lesson besides 'keep practising, no matter how much abuse you receive, and you'll do well', which poses something of a problematic discourse. Put simply, the film's moral standpoint is dubious at best. Teller's character is entirely self-absorbed, and yet by the film's conclusion it's implied we, the audience, are expected to empathise with him – but we can't. He's a complete lunatic! That said, the part is extremely well-acted. J K Simmons as the tutor is also extremely convincing in his role.
Despite the film's flaws, it is gripping, and manages to hold your attention until its explosive finale, but it could have had more of an impact had the protagonist been a little more three-dimensional. It's evident that the plot is supposed to be allegorical, though the message it appears to condone is questionable. It seems to convey the concept that greatness is only ever truly realised when adversity is overcome rather than avoided. But the hardships presented in the film are not only vastly unrealistic, but disturbing and just plain wrong. The film's conclusion seems to imply that the tutor's actions are in some way justified, which is a horrific outcome.
Ultimately it's hard to summarise my thoughts on this feature. The acting and cinematography are simply genius, but the message it conveys is a little muddled, to the point at which the film's finale leaves you questioning whether or not it finished on a positive note. In any case, it's definitely worth a look.