The two harmful words in the English language are "good job"

Rating: 9/10 (28 March 2015)

Geniuses. There are only a handful of them in the universe. They live life on a completely different planet than everyone else. In the process, they make sacrifices that most people wouldn't be willing to make. Sacrifices in relationships, social interaction, in any possibility of living a "normal life." Whether that's Einstein, or Bill Gates, or Steve Jobs, Mozart, Michael Jordan, Lennon-McCartney, etc, these people lived a life that wasn't normal. In all honesty, normal to them, like Andrew Neimann and Terrence Fletcher in Whiplash, is insufferable and for the weak.
Andrew Neimann doesn't just want to be a good jazz drummer, he wants to be the best. His idol is Buddy Rich, one of the best jazz drummers in history. Andrew doesn't have friends and outside of a short lived relationship, doesn't date. He finds people who live the "average life" like his extended family boring and of little interest. Drumming is what he lives and dies for. He looks at his father and sees what he doesn't want to be: a man, who wanted to be a writer, but let distractions never let him reach his potential.
Neimann meets his match in Terrence Fletcher, played masterfully by JK Simmons, Fletcher is an abusive, sadistic teacher who pushes his students far beyond the line of appropriateness. Andrew sees in Fletcher a little of Rich: Rich was known as a temperamental perfection.
The tension in this movie is thick and gripping. Miles Teller to many is the next John Cusack, but I see talent in him that is far more promising than even Cusack, and I like John Cusack. JK Simmons has always been one of my favorite actors. This role is far from his appearances as the Yellow M&M and the Farmer's spokesperson. I'm happy he was finally recognized this year for his skills by the Academy. The story of decisions and sacrifice have been told before in movies like "It's a Wonderful Life," but the message here isn't as clear cut or one sided. It's very open to interpretation.
If I have to knock a star off, it's some of the actions of Fletcher. At times, it was like "Karate Kid", "All that Jazz" and "Full Metal Jacket" thrown in a blender. A music school in NYC would never let an instructor do what Fletcher did (physical abuse). Some of the actions were just slightly over the top and unbelievable. However, I did go to school in the arts and can tell ya, there are some perfectionists who demand greatness. It's not all laid back and easy going like some posters believe arts programs are.
Overall, this isn't the easiest movie to watch, but the way it make you think about how geniuses operate makes it a truly unique cinematic experience.