Whiplash has the making of your typical story about a poor young musician and his genius teacher. But writer/director Damien Chazelle figured out a new way to tell that story, to lay it bare in front of the audience and remove the sugary frosting. There's nothing glamorous about learning to be the best drummer in the world, even if there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Miles Teller stars as Andrew Nieman, a 19-year-old student at the Schaffer Conservatory in New York City. He's hoping to become the best jazz drummer possible, driven by the failures of his father (Paul Reiser). Whiplash opens much like it ends, with Andrew banging on a drum set to impress maestro Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons).
Chazelle's script gives brief glimpses at Andrew's attempts to live outside in the real world, but he struggles. A relationship with Nicole (Melissa Benoist, future Supergirl) starts off well, but then he ends it, assuming that he can't have a private life it he wants to be the best. He can't even stand to be near his overachieving relatives. The world of Whiplash is too cruel to let Andrew have a strong support system behind him.
Whiplash has nothing in common with those inspiring movies about a kid finally getting the teacher he needs. Instead, it has more in common with a thriller. Every time there is a moment of silence, Chazelle keeps you on your toes because you don't know what is going to happen next. Is Andrew finally going to take a breather? Is Fletcher finally going to give a word or praise? We don't really know if Chazelle is ready to give his audience a happy ending. Andrew could just as easily end up like Sean Casey.
What makes Whiplash crack though is the performances from the two leads. Teller plays Andrew more like a seasoned veteran than a starry-eyed kid. The only moment where Teller appears naïve is at the very beginning, when Fletcher first hears him play. But the moment Andrew is in the trenches – that is, the studio band room – Teller becomes a veteran. He completely inhabits the role, becoming a monster behind the drums and even when he's away from it. Probably his best played scene in the movie is actually when he meets with Nicole in a coffee shop. Teller shows how Fletcher and drumming has completely consumed his character. At a time when most young actors are looking to define themselves in franchises, Teller is already making sure that Divergent doesn't define him.
On the other side of that drum kit is J.K. Simmons, who brings as much swagger to this role as R. Lee Ermey had as the drill instructor in Full Metal Jacket. But unlike that iconic performance, Fletcher isn't a completely heartless yelling machine. Simmons – who will no doubt win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this performance – actually shows enough heart to get you to like him. Sure, Fletcher is constantly berating his students with curses that would make anyone squirm, but Simmons taps into a hidden facet of Fletcher. Just when you start to like him though, Simmons pushes you back. He has Andrew – and the audience – on a leash and every time he gets too comfortable, Simmons gives him a violent tug.
Despite these two performances, Chazelle and editor Tom Cross, are the real masterminds behind the film. Whiplash is one tightly controlled movie, lasting just 100 minutes. Andrew may never be playing up to Fletcher's tempo, but Chazelle and Cross are playing at perfect pitch. There's no room for breather, no bland shots of Teller wandering the streets of New York and pondering his future. This is concise filmmaking at its best – play the story until you reach a climax and end it right there. Drop the mic on the stage and leave us sitting in our seats when the credits roll.
Whiplash was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, Editing, Adapted Screenplay, Sound Mixing and Best Supporting Actor.
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