Whiplash

"There are no two words in the English language more harmful than 'good job'." Whiplash is one of the modern go-to films for people who say what a good film is. And I mean, come on. I've watched this film around 5 or 6 times now, and each time I would've given it 5 stars. Andrew Neiman, jazz drummer, is invited to Fletcher's prestigious class, and we feel like he's been invited to some sort of secret club. The warm orange colours of the class mask the absolute fucking insanity that happens under a veil of renown and prestigiousness. J. K. Simmons plays Fletcher to such an absurdity and hilarity that you can't help but laugh at it. Oddly enough, it's when he is shouting that you feel the most at ease as you're free to be amused by his performance and what he is saying. It's when he is quiet where this film becomes an actual horror film, as you're just waiting for him to explode. Neiman is constantly turmoiled over the course of the film, and it leaves you waiting for the kid to shut him the fuck up. In the final scene, when Nieman finally is able to perform his 'Buddy Rich' solo, a simply mouthed 'fuck you' to Fletcher feels like the most empowering moment of the film. Niemen achieved his goal and you want to cheer. It's probably one of the most satisfying endings I've seen. But, like many other popular films in the vein of Fight Club and American Psycho, I think the point of the film is lost on a lot of people, not excluding myself cheering for Neiman and feeling happy for Fletcher for finally finding his star student. I feel some people who watch this film celebrate Fletcher's achievement of bringing out the best in Neiman, when really you should be doing the opposite. Whiplash is a cautionary tale of the road to success and the measures you take to get there. Yes Neiman succeeded but lost himself in Fletcher's world of winners and losers in the process. In the film's script, Neiman's father, who is seen as almost an antagonist against Neiman's goals, is focused on. It reads, 'he has lost' his Son. I think Chazelle's goal of the film was not to discourage success but as a warning on how to get there, and the pressure people put on others to obtain that success. To put it plainly, yea, this film is kind of amazing. "Hey, you know, fuck off, Johnny Utah! Turn my pages, bitch!"