Whiplash

We all have at least one teacher, no matter how questionable their method, that forced us to be better, that pushed us harder, sometimes beyond our limits. We all have one teacher that we will never forget, someone that changed us, that had an impact. Whiplash, a new film written and directed by Damien Chazelle forces us to ponder and question these relationships and the types of lasting affects they can have on our lives.

Andrew Neyman, played brilliantly by Miles Teller (The Spectacular Now, Divergent) is a first year student at the renowned Schaefer Music School. Andrew is driven by a blazing desire to be the best, to be “one of the greats” as he articulates incessantly throughout the film. Fletcher, played villainously by J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man, Juno) is the conductor of the the most established and competitive band in the school. Once he recruits him as an alternate, the pace of Andrew’s life takes a drastic change. From the moment Andrew enters the new class, it is clear that he is now in the big leagues. The students are older. They are more sophisticated. They have unrelenting style and swagger. That is until Fletcher arrives. Fletcher’s very presence is intimidating and that is exactly how he wants it.  He enters the classroom and the students that seconds prior seemed so sharp and full of life, fall dead silent. They can’t even look him in the eye.

Fletcher is a bully. His way of getting what he wants out of his students is by beating them down mentally and emotionally, and on occasion, physically. Andrew wants to be great more than anything else. We see him end budding and promising relationships because he is so obsessed with the idea of being the best. Regardless of whatever cruel tactic Fletcher uses to bring about what he wants from Andrew, Andrew lives for Fletcher’s moments of satisfaction. He lives for his acceptance. As Andrew’s obsession grows and as Fletcher’s tests become more and more demanding, Andrew begins taking greater risks, to at one point risking his own life in attempt to prove how worthy he really is.

Andrew’s dreams of grandeur are so huge he bleeds for it…literally. Watching these drummers practice and perform is like watching Division 1 athletes train. You see their blood, sweat and tears. I do not mean that figuratively. It is practically thematic throughout this film. Teller’s expression of both passion and pain through Andrew is palpable.  He is without a doubt one of the brightest, most promising actors today.

It is mainly in sports and in the arts where tales of teachers like Fletcher exist. I have certainly had my share of past teachers and professors that have left me feeling less than worthy throughout my time studying acting. No one as low as Fletcher most likely, but most of us have certainly experienced instructors that have made us feel like we were not good enough, that attempted to break us down, taking jabs at us personally and professionally. These moments are made to feel like a test by the teacher. But are they saying or doing certain things to see if you will persevere? Or does the phrase, “those that can’t do, teach” ring true most of the time in these situations? Perhaps they see something in you that they never had. Perhaps they are just tortured with their own demons and their way to sleep at night is by attempting to break, or play mind games with seemingly defenseless students.  It is my opinion that students are not barbaric terrorists and it is not a teacher’s job to “degrade and to destroy” someone’s character and spirit, no matter what their argument  for such tactics might be. Perhaps this line of thought is completely off base and said teachers are just weeding out the strong from the weak. This is the argument that Fletcher claims in the film. To paraphrase, “If you were meant to be the next big thing, you would never quit, you would never break, no matter how hard I might push you, or how cruel I might be." These are questions of motive most of us will never know the answer to. But if I were to guess, at the very least, I would say it is always a bit of both with such instructors – a bit of fear propaganda to test the limits of great students, and always a bit of loathing for what could or should have been in their own careers. But, I digress…

Fletcher’s unorthodox methods do catch up with him and a competition between he and Andrew ensues at the end.  This scene is a must see! It is like the big game at the end of an epic sports film. It never ends. As soon as you think the music stops, Andrew begins another riff…and another, and another, and another. It is a true heart-thumping marathon of jazz reverberation and Teller leaves it all on the drums. The last 15 minutes of the film play like a boxing match – teacher vs. student. It is a fight to the death and you will leave the theater questioning who really got the final to K.O.