Whiplash

Whiplash is such a special movie in my heart. The movie represents so much more than being a drummer on a band playing sheet music. This movie is one of the greatest examples of achieving greatness. Overall: 10/10

Whiplash touches upon the inherent drive for greatness that many creatives experience and its follies when those desires are abused and pushed to their limit. Showcasing a journey that’s disgusting and hard to look away from, as the protagonist’s dreams, background, and insecurities are used against him until he is completely unraveled. This is supplemented by an outstanding performance of music, acting, and cinematography that makes this film a masterwork in depicting the darker side of creative **** film follows Andrew, a first-year student at one of the best music schools in the nation, following his dream to become a drummer who is seen as “one of the greats”. His family doesn’t ‌understand him and he doesn’t have any friends, but despite this he continues to pursue his love of drumming. While practicing, he catches the eye of Fletcher, the instructor of a highly respected jazz conservatory, and adds Andrew as the newest and youngest drummer to the band. During this, Andrew is shown that Fletcher will do whatever it takes to produce only the greatest musicians for his band. Whether that’s through manipulation, insults, or physical harm, no action is deemed ‌too excessive for Fletcher. As the end result of producing an artist capable of shaking the creative world justifies the means. This process ultimately destroys Fletcher both physically, mentally, and socially, as his life is dismantled in order to accommodate his desire to win Fletcher’s **** a creative myself, watching this film is like looking at a bloody but enticing car crash. That feeling of wanting one’s artistic pursuit to be commended is hung like a carrot on a stick over Andrew’s head throughout. What Andrew is willing to do to obtain that validation is strikingly relatable to someone who has put blood, sweat, and tears into their own creative endeavors. This is only strengthened by the captivating cinematography and acting performances that filled my stomach with dread throughout. The shots of Andrew’s blood and sweat dripping onto the drums and the close-up shots of Fletcher’s face and expressions really stand out as unforgettable moments within the cinematography, as it pushes the viewer's eyes unpleasantly close to the abuse that is happening. The pacing overall also felt fantastic, as these intense scenes are punctuated by the musical performances of Andrew’s drumming and Fletcher’s band. Allowing the pacing time to breathe in between the scenes while simultaneously creating an ongoing suspense as the viewer never knows when Fletcher will stop the performance abruptly to berate and calibrate his band to perfection.What really pulls these elements together is the overall messaging and bittersweet ending of the film. Whiplash challenges viewers, making them question how great artists are created and if suffering is truly necessary for greatness. Throughout the film, Andrew’s torment and relentless dedication appear to move him closer to his goal. However, this torment destroys him in the end, and right when it seems the film will take the stance that suffering is unnecessary for greatness, its ending leaves the question far more ambiguous. As the final moments force the audience to watch the culmination of Andrew and Fletcher’s efforts finally pay off but at what cost?Overall, Whiplash is essential viewing for anyone pursuing a creative pursuit or curious about the darker side of striving for greatness within the arts. The film fundamentally understands how that desire for greatness unwinds and hurts individuals and the people around them. Truly a 10/10 unforgettable film that will leave audiences shocked for years to come.