Whiplash (2014)
Whiplash premiered in competition in the US Dramatic Category at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 16, 2014, as the festival's opening film. Sony Pictures Worldwide acquired the international distribution rights. At the 87th Academy Awards, Whiplash won Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Supporting Actor for Simmons, and was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.
Storyline
A young and talented drummer attending a prestigious music academy finds himself under the wing of the most respected professor at the school, one who does not hold back on abuse towards his students. The two form an odd relationship as the student wants to achieve greatness, and the professor pushes him.
Plot
Andrew Neiman is a first-year jazz student at the prestigious Shaffer Conservatory in New York. He has been playing drums from a young age and aspires to become one of the greats like Buddy Rich. Famed conductor Terence Fletcher discovers Andrew practicing in the music room late one night and eventually invites him into his studio band as the alternative for core drummer Carl Tanner. Fletcher is abusive toward his students, mocking and insulting them; when the band rehearses the Hank Levy piece "Whiplash" and Andrew struggles to keep the tempo, Fletcher hurls a chair at him, slaps him, and berates him in front of the class.At a jazz competition, Andrew accidentally misplaces Carl's sheet music; as Carl cannot play without it, Andrew steps in, telling Fletcher that he can perform "Whiplash" from memory. After a successful performance, Fletcher promotes him to core drummer. Soon after, Fletcher recruits Ryan Connolly, the core drummer from Andrew's former lower-level class. Andrew believes Connolly is the less talented drummer, and is infuriated when Fletcher promotes him to core. Determined to impress Fletcher, Andrew practices until his hands bleed and breaks up with his girlfriend Nicole, believing she will hold him back.
Fletcher tearfully reveals in class that a talented former student of his, Sean Casey, has died in a car accident. The band rehearses "Caravan", but Ryan struggles with the tempo. Fletcher auditions Andrew, Ryan and Carl for hours while the class waits outside, and finally gives the position to Andrew.
On the way to a jazz competition, Andrew's bus breaks down. He rents a car but arrives late and realizes he left his drumsticks at the car rental office. After an argument with Fletcher, Andrew drives back to retrieve the drumsticks. As he speeds back, his car is hit by a truck. He crawls from the wreckage and arrives on stage badly injured. When he struggles to play "Caravan" due to his injuries, Fletcher stops the band mid-performance to tell Andrew he is "done". Andrew attacks Fletcher in front of the audience and is expelled from Shaffer.
Andrew meets with a lawyer representing the parents of Sean Casey. The lawyer explains that Sean actually hanged himself, having suffered anxiety and depression after joining Fletcher's class; Sean's parents want to prevent Fletcher from teaching. Andrew agrees to testify anonymously and Fletcher is fired.
Months later, Andrew has abandoned music and is working in a restaurant while applying to different colleges. He walks past a jazz club and sees Fletcher performing on stage. Fletcher invites him for drinks and explains that he pushes his students hard so they might achieve greatness. He invites Andrew to perform at a festival concert with his band. Andrew agrees and invites Nicole, but she is in a new relationship and declines.
On stage at the jazz festival, moments before the performance, Fletcher reveals that he knows Andrew testified against him. He leads the band in a new piece Andrew does not know; Andrew struggles through it and leaves the stage humiliated. As Fletcher addresses the audience, Andrew returns to the stage and interrupts with the "Caravan" drum intro, leading the rest of the band. Infuriated, Fletcher reluctantly follows. When Andrew ends the performance with an extravagant drum solo, Fletcher and Andrew exchange smiles.
Cast
- Miles Teller as Andrew Neiman, an ambitious young jazz student at Shaffer who plays the drums.
- J. K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher, the jazz instructor at Shaffer.
- Paul Reiser as Jim Neiman, Andrew's father, a high school teacher.
- Melissa Benoist as Nicole, a movie theater concessionist, who becomes Andrew's girlfriend.
- Austin Stowell as Ryan Connolly, another student drummer who later joins Fletcher's class.
- Nate Lang as Carl Tanner, the original core drummer in Fletcher's class.
- Chris Mulkey as Uncle Frank, Andrew's uncle.
- Damon Gupton as Mr. Kramer
- Suanne Spoke as Aunt Emma
- Jayson Blair as Travis
- Kofi Siriboe as Greg
- Kavita Patil as Sophie
- Michael Cohen as Overbrook Stagehand
- April Grace as Rachel Bornholdt
- Henry G. Sanders as Red Henderson
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