Whiplash

While Whiplash isn't the most recent of this year's Best Picture nominees to be seen by me, I decided to save it for my final review of the eight films being considered.  Rarely does a film deliver so completely on the promise it makes.  What I mean is this; the first two acts of a film deserve a final act that brings the purpose of the film home.  That doesn't necessarily mean a happy ending, or tying-up all loose ends; rather it means that there is a perfect ending to every film.  I would suggest that only one in a thousand films ever get close, and Whiplash has definitely accomplished this better than any other film this past year.  There were a few times throughout the film when I wondered "where is this going?"  Even ten minutes before the movie ended I could see that there were many possible outcomes, but never would have envisioned the one that played out.  Yet I don't want to leave the impression that a great ending makes up for a bad movie; it will never be so.  No Country for Old Men, The Godfather, and The Village; these are all great films that captivate you from start to finish, they pull you in and then end precisely where they should.  Whiplash is about a young man obsessed with being a great drummer.  Not only does he dream of this, he has talent and the work ethic to pursue his dream.  There is one man who may be the catalyst to his dream or may be the insurmountable obstacle.  The man is played by J.K. Simmons as a jazz band conductor who verbally and emotionally abuses his students.  Other reviewers have described his character as a monster, and I tend to agree.  That confronting a monster could be necessary to achieving one's dreams is an interesting subtext to this film. 

The two films that I would ever want to see again that were nominated for best picture this year are The Grand Budapest Hotel and Whiplash, with Whiplash being the best film of the bunch.  The worst film was far and away American Sniper, which is too bad because it really could have been a powerful film, and with its popularity Clint Eastwood really missed an opportunity.  Alright, well back to homework, hopefully I'll get to review movies more regularly in the coming year.