One of the best films of the decade

Rating: 10/10 (21 January 2020)

Whiplash is one of my all-time favorite movies and inspired me in more ways to than one. The performances by Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons are unforgettable and feel so real throughout the entirety of the film. The cinematography and editing are nearly perfect and Damien Chazelle does a fantastic job for his first film behind the camera and I believe he was snubbed from a best director nomination.
The writing is fresh and original and is a film that captures the viewer attention and never lets go. Miles Teller's character Andrew shows resilience and extreme determination to accomplish his goals ,but at the same time losing focus and sight of things that are truly important in his life. The great thing about Whiplash is that there's no true protagonist, Andrew is the main character, but makes many decisions that are not "hero" like if you will, and can be selfish to those he truly cares about. The film shows the limit one should go to pursue their dreams and the consequences of crossing said limit.
If you want to watch a movie that will inspire, thrill, and educate you on themes that are hard to touch on, then Whiplash is the movie for you.
I was utterly shocked reading some of the negative reviews for this film. Many reviewers gave it one star for being "unrealistic" and "condoning bullying"; I strongly disagree, but they are free to share their opinion.