WHIPLASH REVIEW
The Oscar winning movie Whiplash, directed by Damien Chazelle, stars J.K Simmons as Terence Fletcher and Miles Teller as Andrew. This film delivers an emotional story about an aspiring drummer trying to make his way to fame. As well as being one of the best stories in film history, it has some of the best acting and cinematography. Whiplash sets an example for what cinema should be like.
Whiplash has some of the best acting across film today. Miles Teller and J.K Simmons play perfect roles that use realism to replicate real life emotions. With a combination of these emotions and expressions, it creates depth for the characters. The oscar winning performance from J.K simmons is a perfect example of how this depth was created. His acting was realistic and natural, and made his role as Terence Fletcher something to remember. When watching the film, it becomes clear how well the actors in this film understood the characters they were portraying. This is how Miles Teller and J.K Simmons, along with the rest of the talented cast, portray an outstanding performance that rivals some of the top actors of our time.
Whiplash’s story perfectly portrays Andrew's internal struggles and hardships. It provides one of the most entertaining plots that keeps you invested all throughout. Although it may seem basic, Whiplash presents many dramatic events that set Andrew back from the rest of his band. Watching all of these unfold will keep you glued to your screen. Moreover, many back and forth conflicts in the story will lead the watcher to gain more sympathy for Andrew due to how far he is pushed and for the numerous amounts of unlucky scenarios he is put in. However, by far the most appealing part of this story would have to be the countless turning points and plot twists. It adds layers of unpredictability to the story. All of these reasons go together to consistently keep the viewer entertained and drawn to the film.
Whiplash has some of the best cinematography I have ever seen. It’s consistent and intense. The orange and black colour palette only add to the film's aura. This tone improves the narrative and makes the overall cinematography much more appealing. Cloesup shots were also used numerous times. This enhances the feeling of being enclosed. It amplified J.K simmons role by making him the main focus of many shots that draw the attention to him and communicate the importance of his reactions and outbursts. Using these closeup shots gives us insight into the mind of Andrew and shows how he views the outbursts of Terence Fletcher. A combination of tracking and quick panning shots are also put together to create a quick chaotic film with cinematography that fits this tone. All of these components build upon each other to astonish and amaze the audience.
Whiplash would have to be one of my favourite films to date. It constantly grabbed my attention with the awe-inspiring cinematography, incredible depth and skills of the actors, and next to perfect storyline. I would have to give this film a 10/10..
