Whiplash - tight as a jazz snare drum

Rating: 9/10 (16 January 2015)

Whiplash is an authentic, well-acted and well-directed drama, definitely worth a watch - although a margin too much on the conventional drama side to rank highly amongst other music-based dramas.
Despite being hugely focused on Andrew Neiman (the young drummer) and Terence Fletcher (his music coach), the plot rarely feels slow; however there were instances of Andrew's stubbornness simply seeming unbelievable, in the face of Simmons' face-slapping, emotionally abusive maestro.
Cinematography is an element which stands out above the rest in Whiplash, with neat editing and many subtle shots of cymbals slick with sweat or blood. Indeed Miles Teller provided all of the bodily fluids on the drum kit, playing all his own drum parts in a superb performance that deserves recognition. Lighting plays an important part in the mood of the film, as does the music. An original score composed mostly of the diegetic jazz instrumentals oils the parts of otherwise bumpy scenes, and enforces the idea that jazz is Andrew's life, his world.
One downside of the script itself is that it tries a little to hard to introduce comedy, in the form of Fletcher's hilariously abusive tirades. Attempting to make us laugh at a half-crazed fiend of a conductor only serves to cheapen the drama (admittedly without losing any of the tension).
The denouement is surprisingly satisfying for such an open ending. Below everything, though, is the realisation that Fletcher's tyranny won out in the end, tricking Andrew's arrogance and ambition into making him surprise his former mentor on stage.
There are dark themes within - the parallels between Andrew and the shadow of trumpeter Sean Casey's demise are slight but noticeable (note the idea of a car crash, and precocious young talent), and yet they divide at the end, with Andrew's resilience permitting him to exhibit his talents instead of caving in to Fletcher's abuse. The suggestion that Andrew's driven and alienating ambition leaves the audience with a feeling of triumph highlights a refreshingly original alternative to a softer ending, i.e. giving up drumming for the sake of friendship and women. His relationship with his father is an interesting one: although they're close, Andrew's refusal to "come home" with him after his initial embarrassment may symbolise the way in which he is moving apart from his dad and becoming a braver, riskier man in his own right.