Whiplash - Overrated Flick (1 Viewer)

[Jefferson the Caregiver]

If you haven't seen this one yet, don't feel like you need to rush to get to it.

I don't know what the critics are seeing that I am not but since this was a Best Picture nominee, I am certain they got it wrong.

The acting was good, particulary J.K. Simmons.

The storyline was not, it was the same theme repeated over and over for the entire movie. A real one trick pony.

Barely any of the characters were likeable, hard to identify with any in this movie. They didn't really evolve well either.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Let me preface by saying I saw it on an airplane (I always enjoy movies on a plane)...

I agree the characters were mainly unlikeable, but this movie was loaded with suspense, especially considering their were no murders, real love plots, or anything along these lines.

I really enjoyed it.

 

[Fennis]

I say its vastly under rated. It only made $12.5 million in the box office and it should have won Best Picture. For me, it was the best movie of the year.

 

[Jefferson the Caregiver]

I say its vastly under rated. It only made $12.5 million in the box office and it should have won Best Picture. For me, it was the best movie of the year.

It was up for Best Picture and has a 95% like on Rotten Tomatoes. There is not one thing about this movie that is underrated. Maybe it wasn't a box office darling but it's getting too much love now.

 

[Willie Neslon]

Great movie.

 

[Johnny Rock]

Absolutely loved it and I see a lot of movies. Very intense. I suspect those with a musical or a humanities background will interpret it similarly. I can see Whiplash not being for everyone though.

As soon as I watched it I believed JK Simmons should win the Oscar and I'm glad he did. I'll watch it again, and probably multiple times over the coming years.

 

[sbonomo]

Hmmmm I guess I need to see this now...

 

[Judge Smails]

JK Simmons gave a great performance. There were some definite twists that kept things interesting. I agree though - rare that nobody was likable in the film at all. Great performance but only a good movie.

 

[mr fancypants]

I understand where the OP is coming from. I agree that all actors involved did exceptional work.

But the storyline as been countless times before as it's basically "Rudy" but done with an

orchestral background instead of a football field.

 

[Willie Neslon]

I understand where the OP is coming from. I agree that all actors involved did exceptional work.

But the storyline as been countless times before as it's basically "Rudy" but done with an

orchestral background instead of a football field.

More like Mr. Myagi meets Full Metal jacket.

 

[IC FBGCav]

I rented it and liked it but I agree it is not best picture worthy imo. For lack of better words, it was a really simple good movie and there is nothing wrong with that to me because it was pretty well done.

 

[ghostguy123]

Just saw it a few days ago. I have zero music background, not that I think it even matters for this movie. I liked it a lot. I can easily see how it could win best picture.

The ending alone was worth the price of admission (though I got it off netflix, but woulda been fine paying for it in the theater).

Did someone compare this movie to Rudy????

 

[Fennis]

I understand where the OP is coming from. I agree that all actors involved did exceptional work.

But the storyline as been countless times before as it's basically "Rudy" but done with an

orchestral background instead of a football field.

More like Mr. Myagi meets Full Metal jacket.

Shine meets The Shining

 

[badmojo1006]

I think the kid's dad would have been likable, but he was played by Paul Reiser...

 

[DaVinci]

Not my tempo.

 

[IC FBGCav]

Not my tempo.

Dragging or rushing?

 

[EYLive]

Great movie. I feel sorry for those that don't get it.

 

[17seconds]

I thought the first half was so-so but the 2nd half was excellent.

Kind of borderline Best Picture nominee looking back historically, but this year's crop wasn't very strong and it belonged with those movies.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Maybe it was because I drummed a bit growing up into H.S., but this is about as tense as I have been watching a movie this year. Was my favorite movie of last year, and I have probably seen 5-6 times already.

Sure, it could be simplified as a sports movie in a musical arena, but I think it dug deeper than that. Usually the sports movie is about the group or individual overcoming some odds to rise to the occasion. Rarely, if at all, have I seen one that explores a relationship like the one Fletcher and the student had. That is more of a war movie relationship. It did a brilliant job of bringing up the question of: up to what level of this abuse is worth it?

As consumers of art, we probably never think about what that artist had to go through to get to that point. What if Hendrix had to endure that type of verbal and mental abuse and it pushed him to create some of the best music ever? What if he was a willing participate it in like Miles Teller's character seemed to be in this movie? Would it lessen how we think about what we are listening to, would we care or keep listening? Their discussion at the bar was the whole debate of the moive: do some people require that type of abuse to reach the level of Charlie Parker? is it worth that so we can hear the best music, or is it better that he didn't have to go through that? As Fletcher says - are the worst words we can say "good job"? We do talk on these boards about the wussification of kids and how everybody gets a gold star now, but the line is easily crossed and we could have a herd of Fletchers running around yelling and emotionally abusing everybody.

I think what elevated the movie was that it pushed the dialogue more because Andrew kept coming back because he cared about nothing but becoming the best at his craft no matter the cost.

 

[cstu]

Thread fail.

 

[cstu]

Absolutely loved it and I see a lot of movies. Very intense. I suspect those with a musical or a humanities background will interpret it similarly. I can see Whiplash not being for everyone though.

As soon as I watched it I believed JK Simmons should win the Oscar and I'm glad he did. I'll watch it again, and probably multiple times over the coming years.

I don't have a musical bone in my body, don't really care for jazz either, and I thought it was incredible. Saw it at a theater though which I believe is the way it's meant to be seen unless you have an amazing sound system at home.

 

[cstu]

Rudy.

 

[Chaka]

I have read your arguments and determined that your conclusion could not be more wrong.

 

[Chaka]

Rudy.

 

[Apple Jack]

Rudy.

 

[sdp1226]

JK Simmons and the drumming were excellent. The rest of the movie was a bit ridiculous but still, very enjoyable.

 

[IC FBGCav]

There was almost no point to the girlfriend story line, total underdeveloped but it just should have been excluded all together.

 

[Willie Neslon]

There was almost no point to the girlfriend story line, total underdeveloped but it just should have been excluded all together.

I am sure the script and final cut were very different. I would assume the girlfriend and father story lines started about as big as the music teacher's story line. Once the movie got into the editing room it became clear that JK Simmons scenes were where the movie was at. So they cut the fat. I am sure there were many other scenes with the girlfriend and father that didn't make the final cut. The movie worked much better without those scenes but cutting out the storylines altogether wasn't an option.

My only knock on the movie was the ending was predictable. he was obviously going to be set up based on the scene with the lawyer that was only there for plot purposes. The execution was phenomenal though.

 

[Fennis]

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30PSaqtt--c

 

[Fennis]

Not my tempo.

Not my tempo!

 

[urbanhack]

I thought this was better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOCTkH2DdpA

 

[leftcoastguy7]

Great movie. I feel sorry for those that don't get it.

Motivate those to greatness through physical and mental abuse.

I loved the music, hated the theme.

 

[Apple Jack]

Great movie. I feel sorry for those that don't get it.

Motivate those to greatness through physical and mental abuse.

I loved the music, hated the theme.

Hated the theme as in it was great but you disagree with that approach and it's hard to watch (Janice Soprano) or hated it as in you thought it was terrible (Crash).

 

[leftcoastguy7]

Great movie. I feel sorry for those that don't get it.

Motivate those to greatness through physical and mental abuse.

I loved the music, hated the theme.

Hated the theme as in it was great but you disagree with that approach and it's hard to watch (Janice Soprano) or hated it as in you thought it was terrible (Crash).

There is not a school in the country that would let a teacher treat students like that. It was almost ridiculous to watch.

His teaching style inspired the drummer to greatness however. Do the ends justify the means.

 

[dickey moe]

Go see it if you haven't yet.

 

[dickey moe]

Not my tempo.

Dragging or rushing?

:faceslap:

 

[Bonfire]

Great movie. I feel sorry for those that don't get it.

This is a little presumptions isn't it? The only reason someone wouldn't like the movie is because they aren't at your level of deep intellectual understanding regarding it? Couldn't it be that they understand it perfectly, but just don't care for it?

FYI, I enjoyed it for what it's worth.

 

[IC FBGCav]

This thread should be about Boyhood more than Whiplash. Whiplash had tons of plot compared to that.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Great movie. I feel sorry for those that don't get it.

Motivate those to greatness through physical and mental abuse.

I loved the music, hated the theme.

Hated the theme as in it was great but you disagree with that approach and it's hard to watch (Janice Soprano) or hated it as in you thought it was terrible (Crash).

There is not a school in the country that would let a teacher treat students like that. It was almost ridiculous to watch.

His teaching style inspired the drummer to greatness however. Do the ends justify the means.

This is the purpose of the movie, IMHO. To spur this discussion. In that regard, I thought the movie was fantastic.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

Loved the music and enjoyed the cinematography.

Plot & composition could have been better though

 

[ghostguy123]

There was almost no point to the girlfriend story line, total underdeveloped but it just should have been excluded all together.

The girl friend was pushed aside because she just wasnt important enough to be in his life, and he even told her as much. Wasn't the best developed, but was a part of showing how dedicated he was to becoming great.

The father was the "good job" figure in his life, and at the end pushed him back out there.

By the way, if I didnt mention already, that final performance was pretty sweet by both the drummer and JK

 

[ghostguy123]

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30PSaqtt--c

even better the 2nd time.

Shoulda included the fail part also though.................

 

[ghostguy123]

Do the ends justify the means?? Yes.

He could have walked away at any time. He wanted to be great. He knew he needed to go through hell. He was more than willing.

 

[sdp1226]

Great movie. I feel sorry for those that don't get it.

Motivate those to greatness through physical and mental abuse.

I loved the music, hated the theme.

Hated the theme as in it was great but you disagree with that approach and it's hard to watch (Janice Soprano) or hated it as in you thought it was terrible (Crash).

There is not a school in the country that would let a teacher treat students like that. It was almost ridiculous to watch.

His teaching style inspired the drummer to greatness however. Do the ends justify the means.

More ridiculous than the collisions with the semi? It was from this point on where the movie really went off.

 

[Fennis]

Not my tempo.

Dragging or rushing?

:faceslap:

 

[DaVinci]

Not my tempo.

Not my tempo!

 

[DaVinci]

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30PSaqtt--c

0:30-0:50

The rest is just noise.

 

[Raider Nation]

Big fan. Though, what exactly qualifies one for a Best Supporting Actor nomination vs. a Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination? Simmons carried that film.

 

[Chaka]

Big fan. Though, what exactly qualifies one for a Best Supporting Actor nomination vs. a Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination? Simmons carried that film.

I believe the filmmakers submit the actors in their films for nominations, they chose to submit Simmons for supporting actor. A lot of it has to do with trying to position their actors in categories where they have the best chance of winning. I imagine that is why Patricia Arquette was a supporting actress nominee even though she was clearly a lead actress in Boyhood, I guess Linklater thought she couldn't beat Julianne Moore. The studio/director/producers probably felt Keaton and Redmayne were likely too stiff competition for Simmons to have a legitimate shot.

 

[Workhorse]

Great performances, photography and editing. The pace and energy were really excellent. That said, the plot was ridiculous and predictable and the entire premise of the movie was ludicrous. The whole Charlie Parker story as a leaping off point really bugged me since any jazz student would know that Parker never had a cymbal thrown at his head in the first place, rendering much of the teacher's whole fear based teaching methods completely moot. Clunky writing bothers the hell out of me and Whiplash was littered with it.