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Whiplash (2014)
The road to
greatness can take you to the edge
Director: Damien Chazelle, rated R for language,
disturbing scenes
  Starring:
Miles Teller, J. K. Simmons, Melisssa Benoist, Paul Reiser, Austin Stowell, Nate
Lang, Chris Mulkey, Damon Gupton, Suanne Spoke, Max Kasch
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★☆
- near perfect
"I was there to push
people beyond what's expected of them. I believe that is... an
absolute necessity. Otherwise, we're depriving the world of the
next Louis Armstrong. The next Charlie Parker." –
Terence Fletcher
Why watch this? How
many roads are there to perfection? What is the cost to bring it
out?
Plot Summary:
College student and drummer Andrew Neiman desires to be the
best, like
Buddy Rich-best. Shaffer Conservatory in NYC is prestigious
and Andrew is recruited into a Studio jazz ensemble. On the path
to core drummer, he (an many players) must endure harsh verbal
and physical abuse at the hands of the conductor, Terence
Fletcher. It quickly becomes a test of wills pitting the boy's
determination to be great against a teacher's unreasonable
requirements for perfection.
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Dad's Preview:
At
the heart of this intense psychological drama is the question:
"How much is too much, when striving for true greatness?"
Is it acceptable for a teacher to berate and verbally abuse a student to bring out
their best? I've never winced so much watching a
film. J. K. Simmon's Oscar-winning performance seethes like open
wound... but his performance drives the plot. This superb film's final
segment
is unforgettable.
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Bold Films,
Blumhouse Prod., Right of
Way Films;
Sony Pictures Classics
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