Whiplash

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: October 10, 2014

8.8	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 1663 Ratings

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User Reviews

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RetiredNomadNov 20, 2014

If you like to watch emotional humiliation, by nasty people to both nice & nasty people, this is the movie for you. Having seen the high metascore, I restrained myself from walking out in the first 15 minutes. I had formerly enjoyed J. k.If you like to watch emotional humiliation, by nasty people to both nice & nasty people, this is the movie for you. Having seen the high metascore, I restrained myself from walking out in the first 15 minutes. I had formerly enjoyed J. k. Simmons for his pleasant smile & disposition. That smile was still there, as he used words to mutilate the spirits and confidence of young men. Thinking the movie had to get better, I waited until about 2/3 through when a cliched plot feature was inserted.

It is crazy that irrational yelling & screaming is viewed as a story. Pointless. For me, it was simply painful to watch. BTW - I've only walked out of one other movie in my life.… Expand

8 of 23 users found this helpful815

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royphishoohJan 19, 2015

Another disappointing Oscar "best film" nomination. Music is about joy, and there is very little joy portrayed in this tale; it is replaced by the same arrogance exhibited in "American Sniper". The mindless drive for an imagined perfectionAnother disappointing Oscar "best film" nomination. Music is about joy, and there is very little joy portrayed in this tale; it is replaced by the same arrogance exhibited in "American Sniper". The mindless drive for an imagined perfection belonged more on the American football field than in a music school.… Expand

4 of 15 users found this helpful411

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TheDavoDec 27, 2014

A dreadful movie. The story line went from preposterous to idiotic over the course of the movie in true Hollywood fashion. The sociopathic instructor would not be teaching at any reputable university and would likely be in jail for assaultA dreadful movie. The story line went from preposterous to idiotic over the course of the movie in true Hollywood fashion. The sociopathic instructor would not be teaching at any reputable university and would likely be in jail for assault or hate speech. Spoiler alert - the hero not only survives a t bone collision with a big truck that flips his car but goes on to give the performance of his life while dripping blood. Seriously ?… Expand

9 of 35 users found this helpful926

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zimmyJan 12, 2015

I've never felt so out of step on a movie as this. To me it was simply awful. Homophobic rants, ritual verbal humiliation and physical violence and I'm still expected to feel some kind of sympathy for the protagonist and still meant toI've never felt so out of step on a movie as this. To me it was simply awful. Homophobic rants, ritual verbal humiliation and physical violence and I'm still expected to feel some kind of sympathy for the protagonist and still meant to believe he'd be allowed to be a teacher in a top music school. Okay, in truth I wasn't bored...the performances are great and there are some fairly good moments but it's ultimately a cliched 'overcoming-the-odds' sort of thing that I've seen far too often in the past.… Expand

4 of 16 users found this helpful412

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RWEF2011Mar 11, 2015

I absolutely hated this film. It was completely contrived and over-acted. The music was wonderful but was obscured by the yelling and attempts at intensity. Simply, it was forced and had me rolling my eyes from the get go.

3 of 13 users found this helpful310

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AkashVijayJan 18, 2015

The movie glosses over reality on so many occasions that it's hard to take it seriously. Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons give great performances but they're both oversimplified characters. Simmons just plays a comic book villain. How no oneThe movie glosses over reality on so many occasions that it's hard to take it seriously. Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons give great performances but they're both oversimplified characters. Simmons just plays a comic book villain. How no one filed a complaint against him in his time at chauffeur is beyond me. Moreover how did he get a job as the conductor of a pro band despite the fact that he's been accused of emotionally torturing a boy to the point where he committed suicide? Shouldn't Fletcher be in jail? How is he walking free. Moreover some of his actions don't even make sense. He expels a student from the band who is in tune because he didn't know whether he was off tune but doesn't even take action against the one who's out of tune, even though he's completely oblivious to that fact as well? I'm sorry is it just me or is that a contradiction. Car accidents don't seem to bother our protagonist too much. That's the least of his problems. He just couldn't afford any scars at that time so he didn't get any. "There's no to words more harmful than Good Job"? Really? That's not dark, that's not bleak, that's just stupid and simplistic. Whiplash is a film about the pain that accompanies passion, and the blood that's shed on the road to perfection. But sadly, it doesn't execute well. The movie has some tense scenes but the overall result is contrived and unsatisfying. It has a few twists but ultimately it's the same conventional story about the tough love shared by the arrogant apprentice and the abusive master.… Expand

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

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TrueReflectionDec 2, 2014

I was quite disturbed to see that the reviewer's rated this film so highly. It explores the topic of how to inspire students to greatness. I felt like I was watching a time warp from the 1950s when some male coaches and teachers couldI was quite disturbed to see that the reviewer's rated this film so highly. It explores the topic of how to inspire students to greatness. I felt like I was watching a time warp from the 1950s when some male coaches and teachers could physically and verbally abuse students with homophobic and sexist rage, shame, and almost unimaginable humiliation. Further imagine a teacher who uses your deepest and darkest secrets such as the abandonment from your own mother to repeatedly scream at you "That she left you and your father because you are worthless pieces of s**t". Chazelle seriously subjects the audience to his belief that this deeply scarring rage and abuse is required to create a great musician. This movie is more of a deeply disturbing example of why many men will never begin to heal from the layers of shame, depression, and rage. I 'd hate to see this movie nominated for anything and suggest it's creator pick up a book about what really motivates people and recent research into shame, humiliation and the real material of greatness.… Expand

6 of 30 users found this helpful624

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historyman1969Nov 9, 2014

About 15 minutes in, the sadistic, autocratic jazz (?!) instructor played by J.K. Simmons screams, berates and belittles a trombone player for being out of tune, kicks him out of the class, then confesses that the student wasn't really out ofAbout 15 minutes in, the sadistic, autocratic jazz (?!) instructor played by J.K. Simmons screams, berates and belittles a trombone player for being out of tune, kicks him out of the class, then confesses that the student wasn't really out of tune. That's when I walked out. My time is too precious for unrealistic crap like this. My first thought was how could such an individual get into a position of authority without students, parents, and co-workers all filing harassment complaints against him! It's just not believable. And then there's the fact that he's teaching jazz -- one of the most un-strict musical genres out there -- the whole point of jazz is spontaneity, improvisation, a willingness to BE imperfect -- I could believe an authoritarian conductor in classical music, but not in jazz.… Expand

6 of 42 users found this helpful636

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grootFeb 7, 2015

Boring, unrealistic...no one would put up with that crap. Another film that was supposed to be so good, but as usual disappoints.................................................................

3 of 26 users found this helpful323

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SamfortalOct 6, 2020

There a better ways to develop tenacity and skills. Spartan teaching methodology is stupid.

1 of 9 users found this helpful18

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jhepMar 31, 2015

What a VILE movie.....sitting through it was a kind of emotional abuse experience.....we're talking ham-fisted, cinematic Hissy Fit here !…. so glad to see that some comments here are by people who also hated the film.....I walked out afterWhat a VILE movie.....sitting through it was a kind of emotional abuse experience.....we're talking ham-fisted, cinematic Hissy Fit here !…. so glad to see that some comments here are by people who also hated the film.....I walked out after about 45 minutes- enough is enough !..........."Whiplash" reminds me of “Black Swan” of a few years ago- another bizarre and nasty, mean-spirited exercise that was likewise delivered with sledge-hammer blows........the sort of thing that makes you wonder what the director's childhood must have been like !......so sad to see so many film critics and User Review critics still buying into this sort of ADOLESCENT **** crap that went out with John Wayne all those years ago ..... and then giving Simmons an Oscar for his one-note, over-the-top performance !!......all in all a film by an adolescent FOR adolescents...more infantilization of pop culture.… Expand

2 of 57 users found this helpful255

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ExqweezmeAug 25, 2015

Trite. The renowned Jonathan Schwartz says "Jazz is the sound of surprise." That sound is missing here. Predictable, cliched, and dull, and no doubt some kind of cathartic outlet for seniors (the majority of current moviegoers) where J.K.Trite. The renowned Jonathan Schwartz says "Jazz is the sound of surprise." That sound is missing here. Predictable, cliched, and dull, and no doubt some kind of cathartic outlet for seniors (the majority of current moviegoers) where J.K. Simmons represents the overly demanding/never satisfied parent and Paul Rieser the unconditional love/support icon. Neither suffer any consequence for their actions, it's Miles Teller's character that is the reagent to their catalyst - a mushy dollop of clay for them to shape - and the audience is left with no clear moral consequences for any of their actions.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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alexo774Jul 19, 2015

One of the worst and most offensive films I have ever seen. I see where they're going with the direction, and I can see that they tried, but the gay-bashing words, the ridiculousness of the plot, and one of the most overrated actors of ourOne of the worst and most offensive films I have ever seen. I see where they're going with the direction, and I can see that they tried, but the gay-bashing words, the ridiculousness of the plot, and one of the most overrated actors of our time (Miles Teller) delivering a terrible performance makes this one of the worst movies I've seen in recent times.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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TLHGDec 16, 2015

An extravagant mentor with a lot of style who pushes the young pupils to the edge and pupils playing the mentor's game... I've seen that in House, Devil Wears Prada, even in Hell's Kitchen... and now in Whiplash. This movie is nothing but anAn extravagant mentor with a lot of style who pushes the young pupils to the edge and pupils playing the mentor's game... I've seen that in House, Devil Wears Prada, even in Hell's Kitchen... and now in Whiplash. This movie is nothing but an old plot with a new costume, one that adds a hip/cult aspect to it and will extract good comments from posers who want to look hip and cult. Very superficial though and get bored when you watch a movie that does exactly what thousands of movies have done before, don't bother watching. One point to Simmons and one point to the music though.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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