Whiplash

100/100 🥁 "There are no two words in the English language more harmful than 'good job'" I will never look at my music teacher the same again... Masterful. This is my introduction to Damien Chazelle's directorial work, and I am blown away. It is amazing on all fronts. The performances from Teller and, most notably, Simmons are astounding. Visually, this is stunning, with a beautiful color palette, excellent lighting, and outstanding composition. The swift cuts and whip pans increase the angst and stress that oozes out of the screen. The writing and direction are unbelievable, with sharp dialogue, compelling characters, fantastic theme execution and implementation, and well-constructed scenes. The score is immaculate as well. It's heavily stylized by swift, crazy, chaotic jazz music, making scenes riveting. Overall, Whiplash is a gripping and jazzy tale that is engaging from beginning to end. This absolutely blew my socks off, and I am more than ready to give this thing a rewatch.