Perfect movies are hard to come by. Even though I have given ten out of tens before, I always add that the films themselves aren't made for everyone due to preferences or taste. However, anyone who has seen "Whiplash" would know exactly what I mean when I, amongst many others, consider this a favourite or perfect movie. Andrew Neiman, a first-year jazz drummer, wants to be one of the legends in his field. His opportunity comes knocking when he is picked out by the prestigious bandleader and music teacher, Terence Fletcher. While this seems likes a turn of good fortune for Andrew, he quickly learns the abusive and aggressive manner Fletcher exacts on his students in order to push their skills to the maximum. Fletcher's ways of teachings slowly, but surely, begins to take an effect on Andrew as Andrew begins to push himself as hard as possible at a destructive rate, which starts to unravel the underlaying theme of what does it mean to achieve success. The story is both small-scale yet grand at the same time, mainly due to the pivotal choice of using jazz as the connective tissue for the narrative and characters. You feel both invested in what little story is happening onscreen, while also getting hooked in by the character studies of both Andrew and Fletcher, which is the real heart of the movie as I will go on in the character segment. While the film takes itself seriously from the first to the very last frame, there's actually good humour throughout the film, which is mainly dark comedy served by the imaginative insults Fletcher dishes out whenever he's onscreen. While some people will argue that the insults are too mean-spirited to be laughed at, I believe that it's the perfect balance of being so morbid yet serving as levity in such a heavy film. It's surprising that the film is as short as it is, since I was hoping it would be longer!
Miles Teller gives out his best performance to date as Andrew, who perfectly makes this struggling yet extremely determined student come to life. Teller just brings out this level of humanity in Andrew and it's seen in every moment and decision the character makes onscreen. Even when the character makes questionable decisions throughout the film, the viewer understands why he does the things he does, thanks to Teller bringing out the realism of the character and the motions he must ride in order to seek fame and glory. However, it is J.K Simmons's Oscar-winning performance as Fletcher that steals every second he's on screen. Simmons is terrifying as the abusive music teacher that wears all black with his calculated body language and split-second reactions, while making you either laugh or tense when he's dropping insults and comments to his students. However, it makes it more riveting when the film manages to make you understand him as a human being as the film progresses and it's all thanks to Simmons's charm. The side cast is also well done with Paul Reiser's Jim Neiman, Andrew's awkward father, Austin Stowell as Ryan Connolly, a rival drummer of Andrew, and Nate Lang's Carl Tunner, a seasoned student of Fletcher who is pitted against Andrew for the position. Melissa Benoist as Nicole is also great as Andrew's girlfriend, but I felt that she was underused throughout the film as she starts dating Andrew, only for Andrew to dump her due to his extreme pursuit of his music career. I don't view this as a negative though, as it's mainly due to how short the film is in contrast to many others, so it's sort of surprising when characters are used both perfectly well yet not enough. Overall, the cast is fantastic with Teller and Simmons practically competing each other as the best performer almost like the student vs the mentor story they are in the film for.
Damian Chazelle is on the rise as one of Hollywood's acclaimed directors and his breakout film is his best to date. Chazelle makes New York feel cold and distant as much as the interiors being filled with tense and anxiety from the mind-games being played by Andrew and Fletcher. The film is almost reactionary to Andrew's mood as the few bright spots in his life feel warm and relaxing while the intense shadows and lighting act almost like a mind-space that Andrew inhabits onscreen. The Oscar-winning editing by Tom Cross is excellent with how the film is timed perfectly to the jazz music being played and the energy presented onscreen. The cinematography by Sharone Meir is great with the use of tracking shots, panning and close-ups to exhibit the raw talent of the actors in their appearance and musical talent. The score by Justin Hurwitz is very minimalistic as the film has more ambience as any piece of jazz music heard from the titular "Whiplash" or "Caravan" is played out onscreen by the musicians. Not everyone is a big fan of jazz, but I believe that the way the jazz is presented in the film from the editing, performances, and story may actually make those non-fans engaged by how crucial the music is used. The filmmaking in general is pitch-perfection.
"Whiplash" is undoubtedly one of, if not, the best film to come out from the 2010's. From the riveting story, the dark yet entertaining edge it carries from the use of music and improvised insults, Teller as Andrew delivers his best performance to date as a young man driven obsessively to secure his prestigious position, Simmons as Fletcher shows a natural yet scary performance from the humble actor that makes you both laughed and terrified by his mood shifts and actions, the side cast are just as talented and genuine as the leads, the editing by Cross deserves its award for how perfectly timed and paced everything is to the music and story, the camerawork by Meir captures every action and facial movement flawlessly while almost having a cinematic/stage aesthetic, the music by Hurwitz is decent in how minimal it is to allow the jazz music to dictate the film's flow and pace, and the direction by Chazelle not only manages to make a moody film from a few interiors and New York, but also allow the jazz music to be so crucial yet replaceable in a film that serves a human message about the lengths people will go to achieve success. I doubt anyone who has ever watched the film came out disappointed or unamused simply because everything is meticulously done to ensure a sense of depth, entertainment, quality, and riveting experience.
Verdict: 10/10. A truly perfect film that has every amount of praise delivered. A guaranteed masterpiece and/or favourite you will recall for years to come.
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