Whiplash

Whiplash (2014, Damien Chazelle)

I put on this film, as i wanted to watch something light hearted and not really concentrate, however through the duration of this film I didn't take my eyes of the screen. The narrative however I felt seemed almost dull and slow- paced however the film's cinematography was so enticing that the macro features almost seemed to not matter. The structure was very repetitive and throughout there felt like there was an element missing, in order to break up the narrative the filmmakers decided to add in a 'love interest' character, however this story line seemed unresolved and completely irrelevant to the film. It went from their first date, to their break-up with no indication of any other dates in between, making the audience feel that their relationship was non-exsistant. Instead of the love interest, I would have preferred to see more interaction with the father and his family.

Fletcher himself, whilst very unlikable at times seemed to have a heart of gold and true intentions, at the end when the wrong music is given, you feel sympathetic towards the protagonist however there is a burning sensation from the audience for him to finally prove himself, one final time. The ending therefore worked really well and was rather satisfying, however when the film ended, personally I wished it had gone on for longer, and seen the aftermath of his actions. I was enjoying the film so much that I wasn't prepared for it to end so suddenly.

The cinematography in this film was fantastic and certainly made the film. The colour palette used was very exciting, with lots of browns and yellows, this made a clear juxtaposition between the harsh red of the blood, and therefore the hard work that goes into his drumming. Definalty worth a watch, however I'm not sure if i will watch it again anytime soon. The film had a very similar feel to it as La La Land, which is not surprising considering Damien Chazelle directed them both, he is a fantastic director and i am looking forward to his future films, especially if they're as good as this. 

4/5