Whiplash

⭐ 10.0/10

(Originally written by Joseph)

Somehow I convinced my seniors to watch this with me for a movie night, and of course it was a big hit! This movie has a lot of swears, but let me tell ya, this crowd ain't your mom's book club.

Anyways, this movie is incredible. A tight 100 minute masterpiece that I've watched several times and consider to be maybe my favorite movie of the 2010s, with the exception of another movie by the same director. It's all about Myles Teller trying to become a great drummer, and JK Simmons trying to create the next great drummer, both pushing the boundaries of what a human should do. I like this movie because I think it explores this important question but doesn't really provide an answer. The finale is fantastic, but are we even happy that two bad people (one for certain, the other probably) got exactly what they wanted? I think it leaves the question of greatness vs happiness open and lets us decide.

Anyways, it's a great movie besides. The music is terrific, the performances are career-defining, and the conflict is terrifying yet you can't look away. This movie is tight, with essentially no wasted scenes or even wasted minutes. Especially on rewatch, you better understand how everything leads up to that breathtaking finale.

I feel like I have more to say, but this movie is ten years old and I feel like I've talked it to death with Tim at least once a year. So yeah, still one of my favorites, but it's not an easy recommend because it's pretty uncomfortable. But I think it does a lot for film buffs and casuals alike.