Whiplash, 2014 — ★★★★½

I’d rather die drunk, broke at 34 and have people at a dinner table talk about me than live to be rich and sober at 90 and nobody remembered who I was.

What motivates people to endure, to survive when there is an easier way out? Is this some crazy masochistic fantasy or there is something more? What about legacy? When you are dead you are not around to see what others think of you, but still does is matter what they do?

Have you heard of the 27 club? It is a term that refers to a number of popular musicians who died at age 27, often as a result of drug and alcohol abuse, or violent means such as homicide or suicide. Aren’t they the ones who lived their life too fast and too high? What motivates them?

Whiplash is a story of an aspiring drummer. The quote I mentioned above is said by Andrew Neiman, the said drummer who is willing to go through whatever it takes to become a successful drummer. By whatever it takes, it is mostly about living under the constant pressure of the abusive instructor, Terence Fletcher.

The story is simple and short. But it takes an enormous energy and puts it into the execution. J. K. Simmons is terrifying. He portrays the maniacal instructor who is obsessed with perfection. He treats everyone like shit until they get what is right for him. He is willing to push his students to an extreme and it shows. This portrayal got Simmons an Academy Award along with a slew of others and this praise is well deserved. Miles Teller is the drummer who faces his abusive instructor, gets his passion and stands up to it. He has shown amazing nerve of a character. His focus and determination to stay in the seat at all costs are worth an applause. I still remember the drum solo towards the end for the energy and dedication has put in that performance.

The production values are high. The cinematography enhances the intensity of the narrative. There are shots of cymbals bathing in sweat, bloody hands going in ice jars. The use of vibrant colors amplifies the impact the movie has on you. From a rich depiction of a concert hall to a more casual presentation of a nightclub, the camera flows naturally.

Justin Hurwitz’s music was beautiful. For this movie, the music was such a key element and Justin delivered. As the movie ended I could still hear the jazz beats around me. Jazz has not been my cup of tea, but I enjoyed the music in this film.

I felt the end a little rushed, or abrupt. But it may not necessarily so. It was always about the music, and it ended on that note as well. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. It is one of the best musical movies that I have seen in a long time.

Here’s a little trivia. The drummer with insane abilities, Buddy Rich was cursing his band mates for 11 straight minutes. I guess the story wasn’t that far-fetched after all.