MysterionMuffles Posted April 30, 2015 Posted April 30, 2015 This movie was a very educational and emotional experience for me. Richard wants to be a drummer for the best band in New York that is lead by Terence Fletcher, a really harsh, but brilliant music instructor. It's an interesting film about how despite of the harshest critics, it is ultimately our choice to thrive and succeed in our chosen fields. Fletcher is really abusive and Richard is really ambitious...this movie made me feel all sorts of messed up. I do not agree with Fletcher's methods in helping improve his musicians, but I am fully behind Richard's drive to do his best and not let anything stand in his way.
NotDarkYet Posted May 1, 2015 Posted May 1, 2015 The pursuit of excellence requires not lying to oneself or to others about the quality of the work, regardless of hurt feelings. Screaming, throwing chairs and insulting others...not required. This teacher could have demanded the same skill level, without ever insulting or throwing anything. That said, I very much enjoyed that movie. 1
PinkGlitter Posted May 2, 2015 Posted May 2, 2015 I actually take a different stance on this movie. I think eventually Richard set out not to be an amazing drummer, but specifically to prove himself as an amazing drummer to a man that kept knocking his ego down. It wasn't about being great on the drums so much as it was about winning approval from a man he deeply admired and looked up to. At some point or another for me the movie stopped being about Richard becoming a great drummer, and took a heavy, closed, and narrow (purposefully so) focus on the relationship between teacher and student. The same relationship dynamic could have been applied to many different activities (e.g. martial arts, military training). After all, what was there stopping Richard from being a great drummer without Fletcher, through some other means? If he had that strong a drive for being great on the drums, he could have found another way, but instead he kept going back to prove himself to Fletcher. That's my two cents anyway. The movie was a very uncomfortable but gripping watch. I read a great review article which ended by saying that really this was a horror movie, and nothing at all to do with being a drummer in the jazz industry. The final scene where their eyes meet was described as the moment that 'the psychopath finds his successor'. http://theconversation.com/whiplash-is-a-horror-film-so-jazz-critics-should-stop-worrying-36156 1
MysterionMuffles Posted August 8, 2015 Author Posted August 8, 2015 here's another nice theory on itloved that article btw! gave me the chills and wanna rewatch with that perspective in mind.
AustinJames Posted August 10, 2015 Posted August 10, 2015 If you've been in an elite ensemble in the midst of competition, you can most likely relate with the paradoxical nature of artistic improvement that is explored in this film. The controversy of the mentor/student relationship when it goes to extremes is a very real issue; one rooted in our sex drive, triggering some primitive element of our nature, to perform at our maximum potential. I enjoyed the movie very much, perhaps because I can sympathize with it so well.
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