Whiplash

OK I was so reluctant to watch this movie because I just saw the trailer and I thought that this will be a movie of the guy crying in a corner “I’m not good enough” and then jumping to fame and fortune, like every movie ever made in the late 80s early 90s but I was misled by my brain (that is usually right) while builds a movie from a trailer.

First I want to say that I try to put posters without reviews from other people, places or magazines, in some like in boyhood is impossible because they had to advertise everywhere that it was filmed along 12 years, but this movie deserves all the praises it has in the poster, also this poster fits great the other one with the drum and the bloody sticks is cool too, but the original is not so great.

This is the original poster, as you can see looks too dull and boring

The story follows Andrew who wants to be a jazz drummer or percussionist, or whatever they are called, how is difficult to improve yourself and the pressure of a demanding teacher. That is basically your plot, but what is great in the movie is the way this plot is taken, the characters involved in it, what they project to the viewers, and of course J.K. Simmons that guy should get an Oscar every year, because no matter how horrible can be he wins you over, being J.J. Jameson or Cave Johnson CEO of Aperture science he is great and seals every moment.

This movie portrays not only the way someone could endure the pressure of pursuing his/her dream but also the inner growth of overcoming all the obstacles, and the way a goal can becomes an obsession reaching toxic levels.

The music is great, not like in Birdman where the improvised jazz drums just make it feel longer and you wanted to stop in this one is well thought and well planned jazz so every time you hear the songs is great and you could hear the same 4 seconds over and over and not get tired, because you will hear them more than once, but is cool.

The character of J. K. Simmons threw me back to the time I was in college yes there where lots of teachers who didn’t made their job and just let everyone pass their classes but there where that few teachers who pushed you over the edge and was make it or break it with them, this is more common in art schools than in more conventional colleges because your grade is in the eyes and ears of your teacher and not in a formula.

All the actors make great parts, but again every time J.K. Simmons appears on screen he steals the moment. But our main character makes a fine job sustaining the movie by himself. People might say “there are just 2 characters in the movie” or “there are no important women” well tough the idea is to portray a man focus on his quest and an obsession, in other words, a tunnel vision and that closes the world around you, which was masterfully accomplished here.

So, who would I recommend this movie? Well people who like good music, hear it or play it, people who like good acting, people who studied some way of art in a formal way, not like a hobby, also people pursuing their dreams, so basically everybody. Yes I recommend this movie to everybody.

And I demand an Oscar for J. K. Simmons!