Whiplash is not only a film about music and jazz, but also a psychological thriller that alters how we view the pursuit of greatness and relentless obsession towards perfection. Aided by Chazelle’s brilliant direction and heartwarming background scores, it is one of the few films that asks us if it is acceptable to sacrifice our lives to fulfill our dreams.

The film starts with the protagonist Andrew Nieman (Miles Teller), an aspiring drummer and a freshman at the Shaffer’s Music Conservatory, playing the drums when Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), a teacher at the conservatory, walks in on him. At the very start, Terence Fletcher, who is the antagonist of the film, asserts his dominance by commanding Andrew. His domineering physical appearance also adds to his flair. Terence Fletcher thinks of himself as a last remnant of a bygone era of teachers who are not afraid to torment their pupils if that leads to them becoming one of the greats. Fletcher hurls chairs and slurs at his students even if they are a tiny bit out of tune. Within Andrew, he sees the next Charlie Parker or Louis Armstrong, and there are absolutely no lengths he will not go to bring out that. Andrew embraces this and becomes more and more antisocial to commit to drumming.

Actors J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller portrayed their characters perfectly. J.K Simmons, who has a lot of experience playing antagonistic characters, absolutely nailed the perfectionistic and sadistic macabre of Terence Fletcher. Miles Teller’s performance was an outstanding masterclass on how to play a psychologically broken prodigal character.

Damien Chazelle’s meticulous attention to detail is the cherry on top. The yellowish visuals and high contrast give the film a 1940s jazzy vibe. The sudden and artistic camera shots bring Andrew’s obsession to life. The claustrophobic set design perfectly portrays the atmosphere, yet somehow the jazzy background makes some scenes feel more upbeat than they actually are. The movie bears witness to Andrew’s ascent to greatness and also his descent into madness.

Even after almost a decade of its initial release, the film’s underlying themes and message remain relevant. Overall, Whiplash is a masterpiece to which almost anybody can relate. The stunning visuals and background scores make it even better.

Recommendation: Highly Recommended

- Salim Sadman Khan (12614102)(Reviewer)

- Eftekher Anower Nahin (62664057) (Designer)