Photo Credits: Metamansion

I hate that it’s a hyperbole these days to call a movie an “instant classic.” Scratch that. I pretty

much hate the statement altogether. It’s paradoxical and reductive, a movie that really deserves

that title is one that possesses a power that is not merely immediate, but one that lingers and

grows as time progresses. Anything “instant” is not “classic” to put it shortly. The fact that it’s

being used repeatedly (or at all) nowadays aggravates me, because all of a sudden, it has made

what should be a standout cinematic declaration (that’s right, declaration, if ever to be used) into

just a formal rave. A movie of that stature transcends

time itself, because it somehow manages to be timeless in the moment.

All of that said, if Damien Chazelle’s electrifying movie Whiplash generally gets the

recognition it deserves, and is not perceived wrongheadedly (some skeptics believe the film

encourages the teaching methods that are shown), it may have the potential to become, yes, a

classic. The relationship between the film’s central characters is what drives the film. It is unlike

any movie relationship I have seen in quite some time, differing from typical father-son, mentor-student bonds. It is between Andrew Neeman (Miles Teller), an aspiring drummer, and Terrence Fletcher (J.K Simmons), an intimidating, ruthless, verbally abusive teacher who stops at nothing to make a master out of Neeman, perhaps something he himself could never become.

Teller and Simmons have a chemistry that is both spellbinding and discomforting. Watching

the film, I was struck by how accurately it portrayed human interaction (though some have argued otherwise,). Teller’s display of social uneasiness is remarkably precise, and Simmons’ depiction of rage towards his students is explosive and forthright but not insincere. Even brief flashes of conversations between the teenage band members have an authenticity rarely seen contemporary American cinema – they are exceptionally perceptive. The film also studies how certain kids react to authoritative abuse. Neeman’s other authority figure is his father, who is loving and supportive, which certainly impacts how Neeman responds to the abuse he receives from Fletcher. He’s been raised to know himself as more than an emotional punching bag under any circumstances, even when it comes to his intimidating mentor.

This is a special movie. It is a movie in which the editing is in sync with the liveliness of the

band performances. It seeps into you and just sticks… like music. It is a movie where the central

relationship reveals more about how the two individuals feel about themselves rather than how

they feel about each other. Fletcher is abusive and unsettlingly harsh to

his students, yes, but outside of his class, the film uncovers that this man is not solely

coldhearted, but angered and frustrated for never having been able to achieve greatness or

successfully foster someone else’s. But the harsh truth that the film understatedly gets at is that

you can’t teach greatness, you can only ignite it. One of the many strengths of the Whiplash is that it does not present Fletcher as a villain or a mentor. Like the best of movies, it presents him as a man, a very flawed man.

The movie is not about how abuse produces or even ignites greatness, but about how we all

have greatness within us. We mustn’t allow obstacles—however large—in our way to

break our spirits or prevent us from staying true to ourselves, wee must overcome these obstacles and use them as tools for greater strength. We must remain our own leaders and not followers of others. If that all sounds hokey or cliche, it is; it’s certainly not the first time a movie has attempted to deliver this message, but I cannot remember the last time I saw one that delivered it so organically and so thrillingly. If there was ever a time for one to do so, it would be for this tarnished generation.

I hope this movie gets taken seriously. I really hope it is remembered for years to come, as it deserves it. It is the kind of film I cannot bear to hear criticism of. I always respect others’

opinions, but with this movie, because it is so close to my heart, if your feelings on it differ from

mine, don’t bother sharing them with me. Because I will not be respectful I’ll be

dismissive. And I’ll regret it, because I stand against those who are dismissive of others’

opinions. But there is an exception to be made for Whiplash, one of the very best, if not the best,

of the films released in 2014.