Whiplash (2014), R, ★★★★

Miles Teller as the talented drummer.

I'm not a drumming aficionado but some say that people want to drum because it looks easy. Well, fellas, it does not look easy because it takes a lot of skill, talent, and discipline to become the best drummer a person can be in the long stretch. When they practice effortlessly, drummers will get blisters and blood on their fingers and it symbolizes that they want to become a part of a musical group and they want to be the best. As I was watching this film, I was blown away by the crackling intensity between student and instructor like I've never seen before since watching Full Metal Jacket. Nevertheless, this film is still an excellent treat to watch.

Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) is a 19-year-old jazz drummer who is ambitious to become the best like "Buddy Rich" and in the beginning of the film, he is accepted to Shaffer Conservatory, the best music school in the U.S. He celebrates and he begins dating Nicole (Melissa Benoist), a college student who works at a cinema. An infamous Shaffer conductor, Terrence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), is looking for a drum alternate and after a successful audition, Andrew is in the bad. Fletcher tells Andrew to relax and have fun while in the class.

While he seemed courteous towards Andrew, Fletcher is a master at tempting students to become the best by manipulating their emotions by taunting and abusing them. An example is Andrew being the target of the abuse by not following the tempo and because of it, he throws a chair at him and slaps him in the face tempting him to cry when all the other students silently watch. Determined to win Fletcher's trust, Andrew practices vigorously and he is promoted to become a main drummer after Fletcher witnesses him playing "Whiplash" by heart. But, tiny mistakes demote Andrew to alternate since he forgot the sheet music. It may either be hell or could be rewarding in the end.

J.K. Simmons yelling at him, making the student cry.

This is a great movie about jazz and music and the discipline to become the best, however, this may be the wrong way to be performing at an absolute maximum point. The film is the epitome of innate talent and perseverance to maneuver your feelings and emotions towards the hard work and dedication that got these students to the best school in the United States. It may be against the odds or at a high level, depending on how dedicated you are to becoming the best. Practice can create permanent experience that you will never explore again or permanent hardship that will tantalize you for the rest of your life.

Miles Teller gives another brilliant performance in his young career as a determined jazz musician to become the best, but it could have been a clichéd performance with him just bragging. In a scene, because he wants to best, Andrew tells his girlfriend that they need to break up. Wow! He also had the courage to cry in front of his classmates and most of the scenes, it was his hands on screen with blisters and blood. J.K. Simmons is another actor I have admired since watching him in Spider-Man but he gave another wonderful performance in Juno as the main character's father. But, I have never seen vigor and intensity from such a performance since R. Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket. He is like a demanding and no-nonsense sergeant in the classroom. He wants the best. There may be best supporting actor consideration in this performance. He was so great in this film that at times, I would want to just hit him once.

Damien Chazelle, the director, creates an atmosphere so moody and exhilarating simultaneously that it would be comforting and alarming to remain in that classroom. It is like a deep, dark pit and also, I want to praise the editor, Tom Cross, for supplying some of the beautifully edited stretches in the film and it dramatically intense. It is Chazelle's magnum opus. It defines the joy of filmmaking music at the best and worst intentions.

****