WHIPLASH

 

The most disturbing film I have seen in some time

It is the story of a nineteen-year-old with a compelling ambition to become a top jazz drummer.  Definitely talented, young Neiman (played sensitively by Miles Teller) is admitted into the prestigious Shaffer conservatory in New York, a huge step up in his dreams.  But then he is noticed by an abusive teacher -- the conductor, Terence Fletcher, played brilliantly and terrifyingly by J.K. Simmons.

Foul-mouthed in the extreme, and driven by his own unspoken forces, Fletcher hammers the boy into trying for the impossible, reducing him to humiliating tears with psychological and physical abuse.  It is dreadful to watch someone so vulnerable being subject to such extreme domination, a reminder of the huge responsibility that teachers have for their students -- a responsibility that the character of Fletcher does not recognize. For him, wrecking a young spirit is just one step in reaching for some ultimate prize -- the kind of musician that the teacher aims for, but never really describes.

It reminded me of films featuring abusive sergeants with the job of turning ordinary humans into robotic soldiers. There were the same extreme demands, the same cruelty, and the same impossible goal.  As in those films, the young man tries his hardest, but finds that his hardest is not enough.

Andrew Neiman's reaction to the abuse is an unexpected plot twist.  One of the students hanged himself after suffering a breakdown because of the mistreatment, and Andrew agrees to testify against Fletcher.  This is easier because he has been personally defeated, and has given up drumming.  But then, months later, Neiman and Fletcher meet again, and Fletcher invites the boy to perform at an upcoming jazz festival. The lad consents - to walk into a trap.  Fletcher knows that he was the one to testify, and has planned a public revenge. The piece the band plays is not the one that Andrew expects.  Totally unfamiliar to him, it is impossible to follow.  Humiliated again, he storms off the stage - but then, finally, he rebels, leading to a dramatic conclusion.

As a film, Whiplash met great success, winning prizes at the 2014 Sundance Festival, and gaining several Academy awards, with a special mention of Simmons' acting. It has since been acclaimed as one of the best films of the 21st century.

But what about the music?  This is what is really clever about the film.  Teller, the young actor who played Neiman, did much of the drumming himself (assisted by professional drummer Kyle Crane), while many of the actors were real musicians. Superbly directed, they revealed real fear and anxiety when Simmons, as Fletcher, strode into the room. So it is little surprise that while the music is technically brilliant (featuring in a successful album), visually it is dead.  There is no sparkle, no fun. 

The drummer that the teacher was aiming for was never going to be a Gene Krupa. 

By contrast, see the total joy in this clip -- and turn up the volume, too