Whiplash (2014)

"The road to greatness can take you to the edge"

Directed by Damien Chazelle
Produced by Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, Michel Litvak, David Lancaster
Written by Damien Chazelle
Starring: Miles Teller, J. K. Simmons, Paul Reiser
Music by Justin Hurwitz
Cinematography: Sharone Meir
Edited by Tom Cross
Production companies: Sierra/Affinity, Bold Films, Blumhouse Productions, Right of Way Films
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Release date: 10 October 2014 (United States)
Running time: 106 minutes
Country: United States
Budget: $3.3 million
Box office: $49 million

"Whiplash" is a music drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle and based on his experiences in the Princeton High School Studio Band. The story is about Andrew Neiman who wants to become a great musician so bad that he starts to go crazy - not least under pressure of his instructor.

Cast

• Miles Teller as Andrew Neiman
• J. K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher
• Paul Reiser as Jim Neiman
• Melissa Benoist as Nicole
• Austin Stowell as Ryan Connolly
• Nate Lang as Carl Tanner
• Chris Mulkey as Uncle Frank
• Damon Gupton as Mr. Kramer
• Suanne Spoke as Aunt Emma
• Jayson Blair as Travis
• Kofi Siriboe as Greg
• Kavita Patil as Sophie
• Michael Cohen as Overbrook Stagehand
• April Grace as Rachel Bornholdt
• Henry G. Sanders as Red Henderson

Frankly speaking, the first film which I wanted to watch before the 87th Academy Awards ceremony but, unfortunately, didn't come out. Therefore today is a really important day as I've finally made it! And I barely can find right words to describe this masterpiece: sharp, vital, outstanding. There's no soft ways to achieve an object, no - only hardcore. If Andrew really wants to make his dream come true, he must go through pain and suffering - so and in no other way. And Miles Teller coped with the task: a viewer can't not see his passion bordering with despair. However, J. K. Simmons deserves even more attention because it isn't clear is his character an antagonist or a protagonist. Terence Fletcher turned out as much double-faced as only this actor could do.

But not only distinguished acting nails viewer's eye: music, wonderful music which fills the whole picture, sounds absolutely unearthly, divine. And this way there are just two basic components that captivate and keep until the end - acting and music, and nothing more is necessary. 

Advantages

• Miles Teller as Andrew Neiman
• J. K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher
• Music
• The plot

Disadvantages

• Strong language?

"Strangenesses"

• When a hobby becomes a passion?

Clue Moments

• Rehearsals
• Rehearsals
• Rehearsals
• Replacements
• Bloody drum sticks
• The crash
• The final concert

What is a true passion? To my mind, it's an ability to throw everything to the winds except the infatuation. If you want to be one of the greatest, one of the best, you must forget yourself and spend all your time working on your dream. Are you ready for a such destitution? If no, you won't become one of them.

Soundtracks

1. Whiplash - I WANT TO BE ONE OF THE GREATS - Snare Liftoff 
2. Justin Hurwitz - Overture
3. Tim Simonec - Too Hip To Retire
4. Hank Levy - Whiplash
5. Justin Hurwitz - Fletcher's Song In Club 
6. Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington - Caravan 
7. Whiplash - IF YOU WANT THE PART, EARN IT- What's Your Name
8. Justin Hurwitz - Practicing 
9. Justin Hurwitz - Invited 
10. Justin Hurwitz - Call From Dad 
11. Justin Hurwitz - Accident 
12. Justin Hurwitz - Hug From Dad 
13. Justin Hurwitz - Drum & Drone 
14. Justin Hurwitz - Carnegie 
15. Justin Hurwitz - Ryan , Breakup
16. Justin Hurwitz - Drum Battle
17. Justin Hurwitz - Dismissed
18. Whiplash - HE WAS A BEATIFUL PLAYER- Good Job 
19. Stan Getz - Intoit
20. Justin Hurwitz - No Two Words
21. Justin Hurwitz - When I Wake
22. Justin Hurwitz - Casey's Song
23. Tim Simonec - Upswingin' 
24. Tim Simonec - REHEARSAL MEDLEY- First Nassau Band Rehearsal , Second Nassau Band Rehearsal , Studio Band Eavesdrop , Studio Band Rehearsal After Breakup 

Quotations

* * *

Terence Fletcher: There are no two words in the English language more harmful than "good job".

* * *

Terence Fletcher: I was there to push people beyond what's expected of them. I believe that's an absolute necessity.

* * *

Terence Fletcher: Nieman, you earned the part. Alternates, will you clean the blood off my drum set?

* * *

Terence Fletcher: For the record, Metz wasn't out of tune. You were, Erickson, but he didn't know and that's bad enough.

* * *

Terence Fletcher: You think I'm f*cking stupid? I know it was you.

* * *

Terence Fletcher: You are upset.
[Andrew nods yes]
Terence Fletcher: Say it.
Andrew: I'm upset.
Terence Fletcher: Say it so the whole band can hear you.
Andrew: [a little louder] I'm upset!
Terence Fletcher: Louder!
Andrew: [loud] I'm upset!
Terence Fletcher: LOUDER!
Andrew: [louder] I'M UPSET!
Terence Fletcher: You are a worthless, friendless, f*ggot-lipped little piece of sh*t whose mommy left daddy when she figured out he wasn't Eugene O'Neill, and who is now weeping and slobbering all over my drum set like a f*cking nine-year old girl! So for the final, FATHER-FUCKING time, SAY IT LOUDER!
Andrew: [at the top of his lungs] I'M UPSET!
Terence Fletcher: [going back to compose the band] Start practicing harder, Nieman.

* * *

Andrew: But is there a line? You know, maybe you go too far, and you discourage the next Charlie Parker from ever becoming Charlie Parker?
Terence Fletcher: No, man, no. Because the next Charlie Parker would never be discouraged.

* * *

Terence Fletcher: Now are you a rusher, or are you a dragger or are you gonna be on my f*cking time?
Andrew: I'll be on your time.

* * *

Terence Fletcher: If you want the f*cking part, earn it!

* * *

Terence Fletcher: I never really had a Charlie Parker. But I tried. I actually f*cking tried. And that's more than most people ever do.

* * *

Terence Fletcher: So, imagine if Jones had just said, "Well, that's okay, Charlie. That was all right. Good job." So Charlie thinks to himself, "Well, sh*t, I did do a pretty good job." End of story. No Bird. That to me is an absolute tragedy. But that's just what the world wants now. And they wonder why jazz is dying.

* * *

Terence Fletcher: Either you're deliberately out of tune and sabotaging my band, or you don't know you're out of tune, and that's even worse.

* * *

Terence Fletcher: You're here for a reason. You believe that, right?
Andrew: Yes.
Terence Fletcher: Say it.
Andrew: *I'm here for a reason*
Terence Fletcher: [Smiling] Cool.

* * *

Terence Fletcher: Get the f*ck off my sight before I'll demolish you!

* * *

Terence Fletcher: Nieman, you're done.

* * *

Poster of Buddy Rich on Andrew's wall: IF YOU DON'T HAVE ABILITY, YOU WIND UP PLAYING IN A ROCK BAND

* * *

Terence Fletcher: [Andrew keeps playing after the music ends] Andrew, what are you doing?
Andrew: I cue you!

* * *

Terence Fletcher: The folder is your f*cking responsibility, Tanner. Why would you give it to Neiman? Right? You give a calculator to a f*cking retard he's gonna try to turn on a TV with it. Now get your sticks and get your *ss on stage.

* * *

Terence Fletcher: Were you rushing or were you dragging? If you deliberately sabotage my band, I will f*ck you like a pig. Oh my dear God - are you one of those single tear people? You are a worthless p*nsy-*ss who is now weeping and slobbering all over my drumset like a nine year old girl!

* * *

Terence Fletcher: Now we got ourselves our mick f*cking paddy-cracker. Do you know you look like a f*cking leprechaun? I think I'll call you Flannery.

* * *

You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 9/10

Entertainment: 10/10

Acting: 9/10

Originality: 8/10

Music and Sound: 9/10

9/10