A Critique to Whiplash 2014

           Hello Ladies and Gentlemen and Once Again, we have a thriller for you today. And by thriller, I mean a really intense, stress-inducing and heart pumping movie that will leave you leaving the Cinema 10 years older. If your idea of a great film is relaxing and inspiring, this film might not be for you. Without "dragging" any further, Let's get started!

           Firstly, I am sure all of us have experienced a similar figure in our lives like Terence Fletcher. Someone who is ruthless and never afraid to tell what is on his mind. For me, it was my Chemistry teacher back in Foundation and I was probably resonated with the piece of good for nothing rubbish that is the back-up drummer for Neiman. We all have a set of dignity in ourselves that we would love nothing more than to uphold it. Now, if Mr. Fletcher were to come and embarrassed and downright shame you in front of everyone, this will straight up damage your self-esteem. Like most people that would been placed in this situation (me included), would have accepted the fact that we were just not cut out for this field. My Chemistry Teacher deeply embedded within me, the belief that I couldn't achieve anything in Chemistry or in ANY Science field for that matter. Hence, I become a proud member of the Psychology Department *partially joking*. We all would have gone through the Self-verification Motive and identify ourselves as morons. However, there is something idiotic but admirable about Andrew Neiman in this film. Instead of backing down, Andrew actually rose up in accordance to the self- enhancement motive. He decided to follow Fletcher's advice and wanted to be the next Bird..
What ever it takes.

          Secondly, let's talk about the amount of aggression in this film. Fuhhh! My aggression levels doubled as I watched this movie. The core of that is of course, Fletcher once again. He provoked Neiman, the band, and even the movie-goers of this movie. Provocation is condescension, harsh criticism and drawing attention to flaws and imperfection. Now, if that's not the clearest picture of Fletcher, i don't know what is. Provocation is also increased when there is an audience and get this, Fletcher never humiliates him when there isn't an audience. He always do it during class and even during the concert. He put the king in Provoking.

         But....But.....But, Fletcher provoked, he shamed, he even went out of his way to kill off Neiman's Career as a musician. But.... it didn't work. Neiman was still drumming. And what happened? Fletcher ended up achieving his goals. Neiman ended up with God like drumming skills when his abilities have been pushed further than anyone else. Does that mean that Fletcher's Aggression is justified? To me, yes, in a way. You see, you can be provoked, but you can also step out of it. This is different from bullying where there is almost little or impossible way of escaping. Neiman took it onto himself to be better. This is reflected by the number of effort he took. He dump his girlfriend, he practiced until he bled and the climax was when he even continue limping to the stage even though he was injured. That was HOW MUCH he wanted it. He wanted to prove something, he wanted to be better. The picture became clear to me when he stopped playing drums for a while. He became someone that as if lost his self-schema and in a way de-individualize himself. Drumming was all he had. He didn't want to be daddy's okay child. He wanted to be the most talk-about person in the room. In the end, he wanted back. Of course, he did..... It became an addiction to him. At the end, he achieved what he wanted; To be a great drummer.

         Thus, this film has been a thriller roller-coaster as it had a lot of psychological concepts and emotions in play. One thing that I loved about this film is the fact that it got me and my friends thinking. "Do we want a teacher like that in our lives?" The answer to which was steadfast and unanimous, "HELL NO!". Thank you and See you again next Week!