Pushing talents under him beyond their limitations and get them on the
edge where they can take the flight to the glory from is always a job for any
mentor passionate about his work. But the question is, “Is there any line?” What
if you go too far and discourage these flimsy souls from being one of the
greats? The answer comes unapologetically from a ruthless, wild, egoistic and
hard-to-please mentor, “The great would never be discouraged!”
Damien Chazelle’s Oscar-nominated WHIPLASH is an amazingly inspiring
& exhilarating musical drama that takes your breath away with sheer levels
of excitement in the plot and manages to make your heart skip a beat or two
with riveting performances. For Andrew- a hopeful young drummer [played by
Miles Teller of THE SPECTACULAR NOW fame], getting on board in the most
prestigious music school-band was never a task but the real war begins when the
foul-mouthed, perfection-seeking and short-tempered music teacher Fletcher [J.K.
Simmons in an award-wining role] takes the control with a priggish pledge to
produce nothing less than all time greats in the history of music.
In Fletcher’s erratic, impulsive and unpredictable rulebook; being
out-of-tune is a crime but the bigger sin is not knowing the fact that you
weren’t out of tune and somebody else was. Strict like an army commandant,
Fletcher believes in putting one in constant ‘cut throat’ competitions to
extract the best out of him. You usually don’t get the part in Fletcher’s band;
you earn it…and by putting all your hard work, purest form of dedication and relentless
practice-sessions till you sweat your blood out. This man is so confined in his
reputation-driven sarcastically atrocious teaching methods that the ‘self-killing’
news of one of his disciples would also not change anything in & about him.
On the other hand, it is a willful young blood with an immovable passion
that can travel to any extend to get what he deserves. Andrew’s perseverance is
a perfect counterpart to Fletcher’s bleak arrogance. Together they create one
of the most engaging sorcerer-apprentice affiliations. In performances also, Simmons’
energized fanatic act mixed with all grumpy-crimpy look does the part well for
an evil-ish portrayal of the character. It comes effortless, effectively and
doesn’t quite leave you even after you settle down in your regular comforts.
Miles Teller has been charming you from long now but this one shows a little harder
side of him. Playing a character that demands so much of physical as well as
the emotional traumatic behavior is well handled by Teller.
You can’t go with an average background score if the soul of the film
finds its base in music; WHIPLASH knows it better. Chazelle’s indulgent
obsession with drum beats and the perfectly ‘cut to the beat’ editing patterns
give the film a very engaging, rhythmic and arousing feel to it. The airtight screenplay
leaves no space for a dull moment here. Watch if music can ignite the most
fascinating emotions in you and if the hunger to do great in life could make
you feel still very much in the game. Fletcher declares in the film, “There are
no two-words more harmful in English language than ‘Good Job!’, because it ends
the prospect to perfect. Gladly, WHIPLASH doesn’t fear that. It is an orgasmic
emotional-musical masterpiece described best and generously as a ‘Great Job!’.
Don’t miss! [4/5]
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