/pol/ - International /Pol/itics & /Bant/er

A little context to catch everyone up

This is Andrew's do it or die moment. If he can't leave a good impression on the crowd that just so happens to be filled with music big dogs, then he may as well give up on his life long dream of becoming the next big Jazz star. His teacher/abuser Terrance Fletcher however, has some gripes with him, and won't make leaving that good impression so easy.

With the ever so important context out of the way, I can finally get to the good part. the fawning.

Few scenes in cinema history are of such an apparently high quality, that you realize that you're watching a masterpiece, while the scene is still ongoing. A few examples of this would be the Diner scene in the Godfather, or the Baptism scene in the Godfather also. I believe that the final scene of whiplash, not only reaches the same highs, but does so in a manner that could hardly be replicated. Andrew's Drum solo was not only an impressive feat of technical skill, but also a perfect encapsulation of his inner need to be who he knows he can be. In short, the ending scene to Whiplash was both the end of Andrew's and Fletcher's arc, Fletcher finally both unlocking AND witnessing Andrew's inner potential, and Andrew's self fulfillment as the next great drummer, and a representation of Andrew as a character. The scene starting with his refusal to give up, motivated as much by his need to prove himself, as his immense disdain for Fletcher, and ending with him achieving his goal. It is self referential in the way, that it not only shows Andrew's arc throughout the movie, but also being said arc's end. Bravo, Damien!