Whiplash Movie Review

Coming out of the Sundance Film Festival with the Grand Jury Award and the Audience Award is no easy task. This is why it’s odd that the winner of these two awards in 2014, an indie drama named “Whiplash,” is one of the most underappreciated films of the year. After its premiere at Sundance, the film quickly gained a cult following, but unfortunately, that following was strangely absent at the box office. “Whiplash,” sadly, has joined the long list of great films that were seen by too few.

This dramatic, enticing and riveting masterpiece based on a true story is anchored by the outstanding performances by both lead actors Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons. Simmons, in particular, plays what many would call the best performance of his career. Simmons’ character, Terrence Fletcher, is a mystery of a man in the very best sense of the term. Throughout the movie, every bit of me wanted to like him, while every bit of me wanted to hate him, too.

The main character named Andrew Neiman, played by Miles Teller, is a student at the Shaffer Conservatory, the fictional equivalent of the Juilliard School. He struggles to find his groove there until being noticed in a rehearsal by studio band conductor Terrence Fletcher. Unbeknownst to Andrew, Fletcher is a coldhearted and spiteful conductor who has no limits for his expectations and no sympathy for his students. Unable to distract himself from the goal of finding one perfect student, Fletcher bends his students until they break, and many of them don’t recover.

Simmons’ acting is as close to impeccable as can be imagined. He brings incredible charisma and reality to the role of Terrence Fletcher. As an audience member, seeing his face on screen not only makes my heart pound, but it keeps me on the very edge of my seat.

Fletcher arguably serves as the driving narrative force in this film. A cold-hearted perfectionist, he makes it his goal to humiliate his students until they not only fear him, but subconsciously crave his approval. In a beginning scene, Fletcher conducts a rehearsal in which his only goal is to embarrass a band member until he is forced to leave in tears. After Neiman falls behind on the tempo in his first practice, he experiences, firsthand, Fletcher’s methods.

This psychotic behavior is contrasted by the sweet, innocent role of Nicole, a movie theater attendant who begins a relationship with Andrew. However, tragically, she loses out to Fletcher, as Andrew’s dedication to “being the best” forces him to end their relationship.

All in all, this gripping film takes the viewer for a ride on a roller coaster of emotion and begs the question: what would you give to be one of the greats?