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They say those who can’t do, teach, and in the case of Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), a part-time musician and full-time band conductor at the uber-prestigious Shaffer Conservatory, the ache of being able to coach greats, yet not necessarily be one, manifests in the form of spewed, violent rage. Terence is the terror of Shaffer, yet he’s the mentor everyone wants, since playing for him confirms someone is the best of the best. That’s the goal of Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), a drummer enamored of legends like Buddy Rich, and it’s a goal he achieves, but not without consequence.
Written and superbly directed by newbie Damien Chazelle (and named for the Hank Levy song Andrew is forced to practice ad nauseum), “Whiplash” is, at its core, a study of the pros and cons of vicious and utterly merciless teaching methods. In a sense, it calls to mind author Amy Chua’s controversial 2011 hit “Battle Hymn of a Tiger Mother,” wherein she defended strict maternal tactics that pushed her children to the breaking point. Chua’s was a self-professed Asian philosophy, fueled by the notion that misery — the opposite of stereotypical American coddling — is a small hurdle on the road to success.
In “Whiplash,” Terence does all but physically attack Andrew in an attempt to draw out the most of the new recruit’s obvious talent. Curses are thrown like grenades. Furniture is hurled across rooms. And Simmons, in a performance that earned him an Oscar nomination, glares at his tortured, yet shockingly undaunted, protege as if his eyes could explode out of his wrinkle-creased face. It’s a riveting battle of wills, and its culmination, shot, edited, acted and choreographed with glorious precision, is a perfectly balanced and nontraditional coda.
The true triumph of “Whiplash,” though, is its intimate exploration of an artistic pursuit that’s rarely spotlit, and often dismissed — as it is by other characters in the film — as a less-than-serious ambition. A scene at a dinner table sees Andrew ignored while relatives praise his brother for his macho football achievements. Andrew is insulted, but unfazed, since he — and we — know that his is the real blood sport.
Whiplash
R
Three-and-a-half reels out of four
Now playing at the Ritz at the Bourse
Recommended Rental
Fury
R
Available Tuesday
Brad Pitt leads a testosterone-packed cast of gruff Hollywood stars in this World War II drama about a sergeant named Wardaddy (Pitt) and the tank he pilots in an attack on Nazi Germany. Co-starring with Mr. Jolie are Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Jason Isaacs, Michael Pena and Scott Eastwood (Clint’s son).
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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