Damien Chazelle’s second feature film, “Whiplash” is an intense and sometimes horrifying look at what it takes to strive for utter perfection.
The film, which premiered at Sundance in 2014, was praised for its sharp direction and performances, specifically from J.K.
Simmons, who would go on to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his turn as Terence Fletcher, the twisted instructor to Miles Teller’s Andrew Neiman.
The film explores the darker side of fueling your passions, showing a detailed look at Andrew’s relationship with his abusive instructor.The cutthroat world of “Whiplash” introduced viewers to may seem far-fetched, as some of the depictions of higher music education and practice could be seen as over the top.
The film’s ending, in particular, stands out as one of the more disturbing parts of the film, coming off as a tragic ending showing complacency with abuse and the cost of perfectionism.
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