Whiplash is the story of Andrew Neiman, played by Miles Teller, an aspiring drummer at the Shaffer Conservatory Music School. His dream is to be one of the greatest drummers in history who will be remembered by everyone.

The beginning of the movie focuses on Neiman’s goal to impress the esteemed conductor, Terrence Fletcher, played by J.K. Simmons.  Fletcher hears him play and is impressed that he invites the young and eager Neiman into his band as an alternate drummer.

Fletcher, as a great maestro, is notorious for bullying his students into success. At one of Andrew’s first rehearsals, Fletcher throws a chair at him and slaps him just for making a minuscule mistake. Fletcher challenging his students to the point of madness  constantly emotionally and physically abuses his students with no remorse.

The young Neiman is determined not only to impress Fletcher, but push himself to be the best no matter what it takes. On the other end, Fletcher will also do whatever it takes to make his students the greatest musicians.

Neiman quest to commit himself completely to his drum causes his relationships with others to diminish. Eventually, Fletcher  discovers the negative effect he has had on one of his former students. The movie brings into questions: How far is too far when you want to succeed?  How hard teachers should really push their students.

Overall, I really enjoyed watching Whiplash and would recommend it to others.